What is the one thing we all want from life? To be happy. But are you truly happy with your life, or are you just pretending to be happy? If you are pretending, it’s not helping.
We all sometimes feel pressure to put on our ‘happy face’ and smile. But it’s perfectly normal to not feel happy all the time! Pretending to be happy can be detrimental to your well-being.
This needs to be addressed before you can open yourself up to true happiness. Today, we’ll look at why people fake their happiness, how it’s counterproductive, and what you can do about it.
Why Do People Pretend To Be Happy?
Pretending to be happy is a sign that something is wrong. There are a couple of reasons you might choose to do this over revealing how you’re actually feeling.
Convenience, fear of being misunderstood, or not wanting to burden people can drive you to fake happiness. This might seem like a better option than worrying those around you.
But if your state of happiness isn’t genuine, can you ‘trick’ yourself into being happy?
Why Doesn’t Pretending To Be Happy Make You Happier?
Does pretending to be happy make you happier? You may jump straight to the Law of Attraction to answer this question. After all, like attracts like, right?
If you act happy, content, and grateful, you’ll attract these feelings. However, this isn’t necessarily true.
Let’s go over some of the reasons why faking a smile won’t lead to happiness and health.
You’re Pretending, Not Feeling
It is important to note the distinction between being happy and pretending to be happy. When you pretend something to yourself, you don’t really believe it. All you’re doing is putting on an outward show to appease others.
Faking Happiness Can Be Harmful
Faking happiness is more harmful than helpful. First, you will not get the help and support you need. Second, and more important, you are deceiving yourself.
The first step on the road to mental health and emotional contentment is to be honest about your situation.
Acceptance Is The Key To Improved Mental Health
Acceptance of your current unhappiness is the first step in getting to a place of true joy.
Accept that it is entirely natural to feel unhappy or depressed. It happens to many people, at different times in their life, all over the world. It’s nothing to be ashamed of!
Signs You’re Pretending To Be Happy
How do you know if you’re pretending to be happy? Let’s go over some of the most obvious signs you’ve been faking a smile.
Drowning Your Problems
Social drinking with friends at a party can temporarily lighten your mood. But drinking because you feel overwhelmed by a bad day is a sign that you are not happy.
This coping mechanism can lead to much bigger problems in the long run.
Hiding Behind Small Talk
Someone in your close circle asks you how you’re doing, and you immediately say, “I’m fine, and you?” Sound familiar? When you do this, you’re trying to shift the attention away from yourself to the other person.
Glued To A Screen
If you’re looking to distract yourself from what’s wrong, there’s a good chance you’re glued to your phone, laptop, or television. You might spend hours gaming, streaming, or on social media so that you don’t have to process your emotions.
Using Humor As A Shield
A painful topic comes up, and you immediately change the subject of the conversation or crack jokes about it. Let’s be honest – we’ve all done this from time to time. When you do this, you’re attempting to hide your anxiety and discomfort.
Avoiding People
You used to be excited about social events, but you’ve started to avoid them. Although you might not realize it, you’re pushing people away. Spending time alone means that you don’t need to pretend to be happy for other people if you’re feeling sad.
Pretending To Be Happy – How To Stop
How do you stop this pattern of behavior? Accept your true feelings, and make a conscious decision to do something about them.
Get Real About Your Personal Life
Swap the chit-chat for some real conversation! Confide in a trusted friend. Whether it’s an issue with your physical health, your relationship troubles, or work stress, find someone to talk to.
You may be more comfortable talking to your best friend about your love life, rather than a colleague.
Whoever it is, find someone to talk to about what you’re going through. The important thing is to get the conversation started!
Find The Help You Need
Look after your mental health. If you can’t open up to a friend or family member, consult a therapist. It can be easier to talk to an impartial person rather than your inner circle.
A qualified therapist will be able to recognize signs of depression. They will know if you are simply feeling down or need more intensive treatment.
Shift Your Focus
Ultimately, you’re responsible for your happiness. Shift your focus from the negatives to the positives. Much like developing a habit, being grateful can take some work.
Consider spending time with loved ones or dabbling in a hobby.
Finding out what makes you happy and consistently trying to operate in those spaces can be helpful. For this, you may find it useful to read up on our elements of happiness.
Look For Reasons To Be Happy
Don’t look for ways to pretend to be happy – instead, look for reasons to truly be happy. Instead of doing things that make you feel sad or inadequate, explore our happiness hacks! Do you love being outdoors, or baking? Try to do things that make you feel happy.
Conclusion
Are you pretending to be happy? If so, it’s probably doing more harm than good.
Faking happiness can isolate you from potential help. It can be hard to open up, but if you’re going through a tough time, having support can make all the difference!
Addressing your emotions is healthy and essential for your mental health, as well as your spiritual and physical well-being. Accepting your true emotions can help you to process and work through them.
It’s time to stop pretending. Remember – you deserve to be truly happy, and at the end of the day, happiness starts with you.
