Is TikTok’s burnt toast theory a solution to rising anxiety among Gen Z?

The viral concept postulates that minor inconveniences could be the universe’s way of averting a more severe catastrophe. Can this perspective alter how we perceive daily mishaps and alleviate stress?

When you’ve endured a global pandemic, continue to witness the worsening effects of climate change, and are struggling to navigate a cost of living crisis, it can be hard to trust in the universe. And the more things that go wrong, the more you feel as though you’re destined to face bad luck forever.

But what if I told you that the latest trend making waves on TikTok could help alleviate some of this negativity?

Known as the ‘burnt toast theory,’ the viral concept – which has become increasingly popular on the app in recent weeks – postulates that minor inconveniences could be some higher power’s way of averting a more severe catastrophe.

Picture this: you’re making toast in the morning and it burns. Although this is an objectively small issue, the whole process has made you late. You’re stressed, but en route to your destination, you witness a car accident, and upon hearing the details of the crash, you realise that had you left on time, it could have been you.

This forms the basis of the theory, which – in short – encourages us to reframe daily mishaps and failures by teaching us to look at them from a different perspective, namely under the belief that everything that happens is part of a bigger plan for your life.

‘It’s really been helping me accept things that are out of my control,’ says Ingrid, who is one of many users now embracing the concept as a means to view the world through a glass-half-full lens.