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.

(Pictures from pixabay.com)

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