October 22nd 2024.
Have you ever had a rough day where you just needed someone to listen and understand? And instead, they hit you with a cliché phrase like "happiness is a choice"? It's enough to make you feel even worse than before. And it turns out, this phrase is the most hated in Britain, according to a recent study. In fact, over half of Brits actively avoid using these types of clichés in everyday conversations.
But it's not just annoying, it's also reductive and dismissive. According to Dr. Marianne Trent, a clinical psychologist and author, this phrase can come across as ableist and minimize people's feelings. It implies that we have control over our happiness, when in reality, there are many factors that can affect our happiness levels.
For example, having children, health complications, or struggling with the cost of living can all make it difficult to control a situation that is making us unhappy. It's not as simple as just choosing to be happy. This phrase lacks compassion and understanding.
Marianne also points out that this mindset may work for some people who have had a relatively easy life, free from trauma and adversity. But for many others, it's not that easy.
Another phrase that is equally unhelpful is "we all have the same 24 hours in a day." This phrase became a topic of controversy when Molly-Mae Hague mentioned it on a podcast. But Marianne disagrees with this sentiment. She explains that not everyone has the same opportunities and resources, and it's not fair to assume that everyone can just choose to be happy.
The study also found that only 22% of Brits enjoy using these types of positive phrases, and the popularity of searching for "positive quotes" has significantly decreased in the past year. Other phrases like "good vibes only" and "live, laugh, love" were also among the most hated in Britain.
It's important to remember that everyone's experiences and struggles are different. Instead of using these cliché phrases, it's important to listen and offer support and understanding. Let's move away from minimizing and dismissive language and focus on being more empathetic and compassionate towards others.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
