Telling someone to “cheer up” can actually make them feel worse. It can be hard to sit with someone who is hurting, but rushing to dismiss someone's feelings makes the person feel unheard and doesn’t allow them to process what they’re going through. In fact, learning to accurately label, experience and talk about negative emotions instead of pushing them aside leads to better mental health. Learn more about “toxic positivity” and how to avoid it: https://wapo.st/3mUqJO4
