| One upside of the past year has been the marked decrease in "fear of missing out," or as the kids call it, FOMO. There just hasn't been much of anything to do. But as anxiety that an exciting event may be happening without you has diminished, a new anxiety has been on the rise: fear of a negative outlook, or FONO. Also known as "dismissive positivity," FONO is expressed as an overbearing cheerfulness no matter how bad things are, a pep that denies emotional oxygen to anything but a rictus grin. Think SoulCycle instructors, bestsellers such as The Secret, and sentences that start with those negating words "At least," which are followed by a suggestion that however bad you're feeling, at least you've got plenty else that should offset and outweigh it. #Blessed.  Illustration: Simone Noronha Illustration: Simone Noronha Successful people are the most likely to fall prey to this magical thinking and suffer from its consequences. Especially now, where coping mechanisms pounded into us from a young age—that we need to be positive to get through this—are compounded by the fact that life just isn't normal. But there is a solution: recognizing your feelings good or bad. And allowing yourself and others a good moan. Once expressed, emotions are supposed to be relatively short-lived experiences. Here's a quiz to help gauge your level of FONO. Give yourself one point for every question answered with a yes 1. Have you started a sentence with "At least …" in the last week? 2. Would your friends describe you as the motivator of the group? 3. Have you liked an uplifting meme on social media recently? (Add a point if you posted one.) 4. Do you own a well-thumbed copy of The Secret? 5. Have you ever worked in one of the following professions: life coach, spin instructor, cheerleader, or Tough Mudder franchisee? (Add a half-point for each additional gig checked.) 6. Have you considered keeping a gratitude journal? (Add another point if you already do.) 7. Have you used the phrase "Smile" or "Cheer up" or "It's not all bad" in the last month? 8. Do you have a ringtone set to Happy by Pharrell Williams? 9. Would you prefer to be a blissful idiot rather than a tortured genius? 10. Did you read this story without acknowledging any downsides? Have your score? Click through to find out just how toxic your positivity may be. | 
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