PSA: My mom's 'be positive' advice cost me 3 years of my career

She always told me to just smile and things would work out. So I stuck with a toxic design agency for 3 years thinking if I just had a better attitude it would get better. It didn't. I finally quit last march and doubled my income in 4 months freelancing. Has anyone else had to unlearn their parents' overly optimistic advice?

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jenny_coleman3mo ago

Isn't it funny how "stay positive" turns into "ignore real problems"?

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lisak263mo ago

Right on, @jenny_coleman. That line between "keeping your head up" and "pretending everything's fine" is so blurry sometimes. When does a little pep talk turn into someone just telling you to shut up about the actual problem? You gotta wonder what they're really trying to protect, your feelings or their own comfort. What do you think the so-called problem is that people are supposed to ignore, a leaky roof or a full blown flood?

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