Is gratitude an attitude? Is optimism a strategy? Sure. Those positive approaches to life can certainly benefit our mental, emotional, and physical health. But when we don't allow them to co-exist with the hard parts--when they become avoidance or denial in disguise--they can become shallow and toxic. Thea and Kate discuss the importance of acknowledging and embracing the full range of experiences, including the sucky ones, so that we can release expectations that we or others should always be cheerful.