Not Happy? Fake It! (Day 16 of 30 of the Happiness Challenge)
I’m sure that you are aware of the expression “Fake It, Till You Make It”…
“Fake It, Till You Make It"
It is usually quoted when people talk about succeeding in the business world, to act like a success, until you are successful because others around you will start treating you like a success and as a result, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. One day you become the success that you are aspiring to be.
It sounds worse than it is and sounds a tad phony, but essentially the lesson here is to model the behavior you wish to internalize until it becomes internalized.
When it is part of your makeup, you start to see the results as you start to do the things that successful people do and it only makes sense that that success follows suit.
This behaviour modelling works in all sorts of different contexts, not just business.
If you want to become thinner and fitter, you start acting like a thinner fitter person by choosing the right foods and exercising, stop sitting around doing nothing etc, you internalize behaviors that make you lose weight.
I wondered if the same concept could be applied to happiness…
I did a little research and found that the same idea can indeed work for feelings - including feelings of well-being, self-worth, and happiness.
You can actually fake happiness until you improve your mood. I’m not saying it’s always going to be easy, but it is entirely possible. Remember it is a choice, your choice…
How To Start Faking Happiness
Faking happiness can start with a forced smile. It can start with that, but try to get your whole face involved, including your eyes. But, for it to really have a chance at working, give it your best shot, even if you don’t feel like it.
The feelings of happiness might not arrive straight away, so stick with it and keep putting a smile on your face for no particular reason regularly throughout the day for the best results.
To turn it up a notch, giving laughing a go too! Even if there is no reason to, giggle or laugh!
It really has a profound effect on the body, not only by lifting your mood but by increasing your body’s immune system and ability to heal.
In fact, laughter yoga encourages belly laughs, till you are in hysterics on the floor. I know it sounds a little cuckoo, but it actually works.
Why not give it a try and add it to your toolbox of happiness strategies. You could practice in front of your bathroom mirror in the mornings, then as you go about your say make a conscious effort to smile and laugh more often.
Smiles and laughter are contagious - not only will you make a vast difference to your own happiness levels, but your rays will ripple out to the world around you.
Previous Days
Day 2 of 30 of the Happiness Challenge: Make Happiness Your Best Friend
Day 3 of 30 of the Happiness Challenge: Start Your Day With Gratefulness
Day 4 of 30 of the Happiness Challenge: Start Your Day With Gratefulness
Day 5 of 30 of the Happiness Challenge: Time to Get Busy...
Day 6 of 30 of the Happiness Challenge: Know Your Onions About Dealing With Stress
Day 7 of 30 of the Happiness Challenge: The Connection Between Happiness and Exercise
Day 8a of 30 of the Happiness Challenge: The Human Connection
Day 8b of 30 of the Happiness Challenge: The Human Connection 2
Day 9 of 30 of the Happiness Challenge: Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff. Savour It Instead
Day 10 of 30 of the Happiness Challenge: Surfing the Sea of Sadness
Day 11 of 30 of the Happiness Challenge: The Good Fight Against Our Brain’s Bias To Negativity
Day 12 of 30 of the Happiness Challenge: Form Happiness Support Groups
Day 13 of 30 of the Happiness Challenge: Why Getting Enough Sleep May Be The Key To Happiness
Day 14 of 30 of the Happiness Challenge: Little Confidence Boosters
Day 15 of 30 of the Happiness Challenge: Make it a Goal to Make Someone Else’s Day
Holy smokes, a tigarakeet!
I do this all the time, or, used to, and now it's a habit and I'm just happy.
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Its easier to just be happy, then carry the weights of thw world :)
Hi @hopehuggs
Sorry to ask some kind of off-topic to this post.
My question is about the value of Steem. It has been losing the value, so what do you think of Steem price by end of December?
Hi @r-k-m, I am hopeful for the price of steem to rise end of Dec and new year as these things follow patterns and that has been the case in the last couple of years.
This is my first year so I don't know those things. So it's the time to leave Steem in our accounts as it is. Thanks for telling the good news from your experience.