by Jean P. Kelly
Gratitude has been a moral virtue for centuries across cultures, religions, and traditions, but recently—with TED talks, social media posts and bullet journals—giving thanks as a self-help strategy has exploded. This time of year especially, gratitude is both big business and a cultural imperative. But in my experience, such promoted positivity has a seriously dark side.
Emerging research in positive psychology does show strong evidence that being grateful leads to both physical and mental wellness, ranging from greater self-esteem to increased happiness. But what well-meaning friends, social media influencers, and other pop-psych pushers fail to address is equally strong evidence that “toxic positivity” leads to patriarchal silencing, denial, unhappiness, and worse.
Gratitude was how I “shushed”
Jean P. Kelly
those negative emotions,
hiding them not only from others,
but also from myself.
Continue reading “The Dark Side of Gratitude: A Deeper Reflection”
Jean P. Kelly, Intentional Path Media 