Smiling 'til you've got face ache
Hello hello,
Have you ever smiled so much that your face aches? Usually, it's some family event where every aunt gets her phone out for photos that take 20 times as long as it needs to.
Parents across the UK this week were standing their children outside the front door and telling them to smile. Back to school. Look happy. We like to see the changes over time of your happy little faces on the first day of school.
One year I didn't take the first day of school photo.
It didn't seem right.
My kids weren't unhappy per-se but they didn't have that first day back excitement and I didn't want the world to believe that they did. We'd just moved house and it was their first day at a completely new school. It was hard on all of us but mostly on my kids. Leaving friends behind and starting again from scratch.
I wasn't going to sugarcoat the reality of life. That not all kids instantly settle in and have boundless resilience. It simply isn't true.
I'm reminded of this in this week's podcast episode which is with positive psychology coach Lucy Orton. I love Lucy's podcast. It's truly relatable and filled with practical advice on being a better you. But there was one episode that made me reach out and ask if I could interview her: toxic positivity.
This idea that we are too positive. That other feelings are not valid. Our filtered and polished content online is doing more harm than good. Especially when it comes to our personal feelings.
Much like I don't want to share a photo of my kids at school until I know they are settled and happy for me to do so (FYI - every pic of my kids online has their consent. My daughter usually says no.)
In the same way, I don't want to pretend that I'm slapping a label of authenticity onto my business content and making it look more successful than is real. It's unhelpful and in extreme circumstances, damaging.
But there is more to the episode than this subject. And I love how Lucy doesn't find joy in blogging so doesn't have a blog.
If you've ever wondered why you're forcing yourself to do certain marketing activities when you'd rather like the underside of your desk - this is the episode for you. It's right here.
And I'm afraid no worksheet to go with this week. Just lovely words from an inspiring woman.
See you next Thursday!
Fiona