Emily: Welcome Libby! Could you tell us what toxic positivity means, and what are the signs that someone is struggling with it?
Libby: Hi, it's great to be here! Toxic positivity is a defense mechanism that causes people to bypass painful feelings and mask them under the guise of a positive mindset. It's a tactic to avoid discomfort, sweeping real emotions under the rug, so you and others can be protected from sadness, anger, disappointment, or vulnerability.
Toxic positivity is dangerous because it causes us to repress our emotions, which can cause depression and even illnesses. It shames us for having a common human experience, and it keeps us from having true genuine connections with others because we avoid authenticity. Common signs for someone who is experiencing it are: feeling guilty for being sad or angry, dismissing difficult feelings, ignoring problems, or feeling pressured to "stay positive" during hard situations.
Emily: What inspired you to create this course for our community? Who is this course primarily for?
Libby: I've been coaching since 2018 and have noticed hundreds of people with the same pattern. So many of us are stuck or blocked because we avoid feeling uncomfortable emotions. I wanted to create a course that coaches you to address the beliefs that limit you, so you can establish a sense of safety in your nervous system and learn to hold that space for your emotions.
That's how you move forward in life. It's easy to fall into toxic positivity without realizing it — especially in the wellness community — and while gratitude and having a positive outlook is important, it's even more important to allow yourself to release emotion through vulnerability and truth. This course is for the person who believes their needs are a burden. It's for the person who is ready to be brave — for the healer, the healed, and the wounded.
Emily: Libby, I'm so excited to dive into your course! Tell us a bit about how you've structured the lessons, the tools you teach, and what you hope participants walk away with.
Libby: Absolutely! The course is thoughtfully designed with seven lessons, each one a step deeper into self-discovery and leading to real behavioral change. You'll find incredible tools like somatic experiencing, exercises to shift your mindset, awareness assignments, guidance on setting boundaries, inspiring guided visualizations, and even homework assignments to help you truly integrate everything you learn into a life that embraces all of who you are!
My biggest hope is that participants will learn that feeling your feelings is absolutely essential for a healthy lifestyle. I want you to embrace your emotions, speak your truth, and lean away from fear and into confidence. Ultimately, I want you to heal, so you can increase your capacity to hold emotion and go forth into the world expressing freely as your most authentic self!
Emily: How has this work transformed your life?
Libby: This work has transformed my life in so many ways. I used to be afraid of being seen, afraid of rejection, afraid of rocking the boat or creating controversy with my needs and opinions. I didn't have any boundaries, letting people use me as a doormat because I felt so much less important than them. I used to pretend everything was fine when it wasn't. I was insecure and had not faced my painful past. This work has taught me that pain grows power. You must feel it to heal it. Once I brought an awareness to these patterns and perceived limitations, I started to change.
I've taken myself through this course many times, and every time bears a new beautiful result. These skills have led me to show up with little fear of being judged (because, let's be honest, there will always be a little fear), build a successful business, maintain healthy relationships, express myself freely, experience high self-worth and confidence, and regulate my nervous system. I continue to create sustainable changes in my life as I move forward. I hope you experience some of the same gifts. My love and support is with you on your journey!
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