From injunctions to “be mindful” to armies of yogis sent into office buildings to help overworked staffers relax, the U.S. has for decades been caught in a trap of what we are now beginning to recognize as “toxic” positivity. The intention of these programs: to both distract you from what’s really going on and shift the blame for your mental exhaustion, depression, and abuse from the culprits (which is capital) to you. It’s your fault, citizen, that you’re depressed or poor. And the consequences of this move are more clear and horrifying than ever.
