What is the 'Burnt Toast' theory and how it can help you stay hopeful in life

Picture this: you had a late night, snoozed your alarm a dozen times, and now you're rushing off to work, only to burn your breakfast in the process. The mishap sets you back a few minutes, leaving you upset, inconvenienced, and annoyed. When you've endured a global pandemic, witnessed wars and power struggles across the world, fought the rising cost of living, and navigated the everyday complexities of life, it can be hard to have faith in the universe. The more things go wrong, the more you feel destined to face bad luck forever.

But slow down and think. Those extra few minutes may have saved you from a catastrophe on the street, made you cross paths with someone special, or led to a new experience that could change the course of your day or even your life.

This is the core principle of the 'Burnt Toast' theory. It suggests that life’s inconveniences and failures happen as part of a bigger plan for your life.

We spoke to Sanchita Sood Anand, a leading clinical psychologist, to understand the 'Burnt Toast' theory a tad better.

Does the 'Burnt Toast' theory preach optimism all the time?

According to Anand, the theory is a part of positive psychology that encourages people to think positively about events, regardless of what happens. However, this isn’t always helpful, especially when it leads to toxic positivity, making one unaware of negative attributes and critical aspects of life. Happiness takes different shapes and forms, and it's crucial to maintain a balance between optimism and critical thinking.

The patterns that define this behaviour 

The 'Burnt Toast' theory is a mindset. It’s about how you approach situations that come your way. With the increase in mental health awareness, people are more attuned to their thoughts and behaviours. Many seek explanations for their actions, wanting to understand the meaning and implications of their behaviours and how they predict future actions.

There are indeed many theories that explain why things happen a certain way, be it the butterfly effect, Murphy’s law, or the 'Burnt Toast' theory. At their core, each of these theories suggests the same thing—embrace the idea that these little detours could be secretly working in your favour. Of course, they do not suggest that the theory is a fix to life’s great injustices, big or small, or the only outlook you should have towards life. They allow you to accept life situations that are completely out of your control and give you hope that there’s a better path for you in the grand scheme of things. Perhaps, it's just about finding something to hold on to, to stay steady whenever life throws a curveball.

All images: Netflix

Also read: 5 apps to boost your mental health

Also read: 5 mental health books that will help you through a rough patch

Also read: How to Use a Mental Health Journal to Improve Your Well-Being