Spreading Validation and Hope During COVID-19
While it is important to stay positive during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to remember that positive thinking is not a switch that people can flip. Instead, we should be promoting the spread of validation and hope during COVID-19 because while the practice of positive thinking may be helpful for some people, positive thinking is not the only situation.
In fact, when people act as though positive thinking is the end all be all solution, it can often become “toxic positivity”, where people who are unable to be positive all the time are deemed “toxic”. Instead of insinuating that people are failing if they don’t feel better even if they are able to think positive thoughts, we should be trying to spread validation and hope.
Here are some statements that may be seen as “toxic positivity” and ways in which you can change them to instead spread validation and hope:
| Toxic Positivity | Spread Validation and Hope |
| “Just be grateful for what you have. Other people have it so much worse than you right now.” | “This is hard. We can be grateful for what we have while still being sad for what we don’t.” |
| You’re so lucky you don’t have to work right now! It must be amazing that you get to relax all the time.” | “It must be hard to not have work or consistent income. People who are working and who aren’t are all struggling in their own way right now.” |
| You should be more positive! Look for all of the good right now.” | “It’s probably pretty hard to be positive right now. I have trouble seeing the good and have to remind myself of it often.” |
| “Stop being so negative, it will only make things worse. Think positive thoughts! Positivity will get us through this.” | “It’s normal to feel negative right now. Is there something I can do to help?” |
| “Stop worrying so much. Everything will go back to normal again soon!” | “Things might not be normal for a while but we will get through it together.” |
Keep in mind that giving those who are struggling the space to feel is one of the best ways to support them. You should also remind yourself and others that it is completely appropriate, understandable and valid to be sad, anxious, overwhelmed, unsure or afraid right now and that these feelings do not make people any less “positive”.
If you need help, please keep in mind that all of us at the BC Epilepsy Society and the I AM A VOICE for Epilepsy Awareness™ campaign are here for you. Please call us at 604-875-6704, email us at [email protected], direct message us on any of our social media platforms and consider joining one of our weekly online support groups.
Together, we can help to stop toxic positivity and instead promote the spread of validation and hope, during the time of COVID-19 and all the time!