If you’ve heard this phrase while navigating fertility challenges, you’re not alone. On the surface, it sounds like encouragement—a gentle nudge to find hope in a difficult situation. But for many, facing the emotional rollercoaster of fertility treatments, miscarriages, or uncertainty, this kind of advice often feels as if it misses the mark.

While positivity can be helpful in the right context, a relentless insistence on optimism, known as toxic positivity, dismisses real emotions, amplifies guilt, and isolates those already feeling vulnerable. Its impact can often undermine a person’s ability to cope with challenges and damage their relationships with others.

At its core, toxic positivity is the belief that maintaining a positive mindset is the only acceptable response to life’s challenges. It’s an obsession with finding the silver lining, even when doing so leaves no room for darker, more complex emotions.

Phrases like:

Although often well-intentioned, these statements oversimplify the depth of someone’s pain, dismissing their reality. The message is clear: Uncomfortable emotions are unwelcome, and any deviation from optimism is a failure of character.

Beyond invalidating emotions, toxic positivity has broader and less obvious consequences. These hidden impacts can shape the way individuals process their journey, connect with others, and view themselves.

Paradoxically, the pressure to stay positive can make people less equipped to........

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