Could The Viral ‘Burnt Toast Theory’ Explain Why Bad Things Happen To You?

Formatoriginal / 500px via Getty Images People online have been using "burnt toast theory" to make sense out of life's chaos. “No one was seated in 26A and 26B where that door plug is.” Although the airline said nobody was assigned the seats next to the hole, people online have speculated that it’s not just good fortune that passengers were not there ― it’s burnt toast theory. “If burnt toast theory allows you to let go and have grace for yourself and others during mishaps, then that's a net positive.” - Han Ren, psychologist To determine if it’s actually helpful to you, see how the belief is functioning in your life. “So if burnt toast theory allows you to let go and have grace for yourself and others during mishaps, then that’s a net positive.” The Downside Of The Burnt Toast Theory Psychologist and executive coach Lauren Appio said she did not want to “yuck anyone’s yum,” but she thought that burnt toast theory “just looks like a dressed-up version of ‘Everything happens for a reason.’” And this phrase can embody “toxic positivity” when it’s forcing people to feel gratitude and stifle emotions about daily or major frustrations and losses. Putting too much emphasis on the burnt toast theory may also cause you to believe “things just happen to you and that you have no control over it,” Sanchez said.