I have been hearing a lot lately, through print and electronic media, about "pretending" to be happy. The idea is that if you smile and if you "act" happy and appear to others to be happy, you will "fool" yourself into actually being happy! What a concept. Those who are living by this all claim to be happier! Neil Pasricha, the author of the blog "1000 Awesome Things" (and now the best-seller "The Book of Awesome) began his "happy" blog in the midst of a very sad time in his life. While he was posting his "Awesome Things", he was going through many life changes, including a divorce. He says that by actively searching for awesome things to write about, he found that he was not dwelling on the negative things in his life and he actually became happier sooner. It is difficult to stay in your dark zone, when you are thinking happy thoughts. You need to think good thoughts not only about other people, but also about yourself. As Thumper said in the movie Bambi, "If you can't say somethin' nice, don't say nothin' at all." If you are saying - and thinking - nice thoughts, you will be happier. I guess this whole concept is not really new. The song "Smile" was written in 1936. The entire song is about smiling even though you are feeling sad, and that if you do smile, eventually you will feel happy again. The second verse sums it up very well:
Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying
You'll find life is still worthwhile
If you just smile.
Smiling through your darkest moments and "fooling" yourself into being happy . . . . it's a good thing!
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