#ToxicPositivity

A wave of new guidance is helping parents across the globe, including in Thailand, understand how best to support their children’s emotional lives—without falling into the pitfalls of toxic positivity or feeling pressured to fix or gloss over every distressing feeling. As recent reporting by Slate illuminates, experts are urging parents to create honest, safe spaces for children to feel and process a full range of emotions, rather than pushing relentless optimism that may leave kids feeling unheard or misunderstood (Slate).

Toxic positivity—a workplace culture that insists “every cloud has a silver lining”—is causing more harm than good, experts warn, pushing employees toward burnout and undermining psychological safety. As businesses across Thailand strive to uplift morale after the disruptions of the pandemic, mounting evidence suggests that masking or suppressing negative emotions with relentless optimism can worsen mental health, reduce trust, and even hinder organisational growth. Recent research and commentary from international and Asian experts point to the urgency for leaders to foster honest, compassionate workplaces where the full range of human emotion is accepted.