TM3: Nelson Mandela on playing small; What makes you whole?; Toxic positivity

Hi there,

Happy Monday!

Here’s your weekly dose of The Monday 3: a quote, an insight and an action I’m taking.

With love,

Toby

A quote I’m pondering

There is no passion to be found playing small, in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.

Nelson Mandela

An insight

If you take the symbol of yin yang as a symbol of the highs and lows of the human condition, then perhaps the very pain that you’re trying to prevent/remove/escape is in fact the part that makes you whole.

Unfortunately that doesn’t necessarily make it easier to accept.

An action I’m taking

If you’ve ever found yourself in a difficult situation and someone says to you: “Stay positive.” “Look on the bright side.” “You should be grateful for what you have.”; then you know what toxic positivity feels like. It can feel diminishing, invalidating, dismissive.

While keeping a sense of optimism and positivity can be helpful, we all hurt sometimes. In relevant conversations I’m practicing acknowledging the difficulty part first. To recognise it as human, understandable and valid.

Then we can begin to explore what might come next.

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Is there one of these that really stood out for you? I’d love to hear your thoughts or suggestions whether that’s a favourite quote or something else.

I hope you have a great week ahead.