Fake It Til' You Make It?

Let me get to the point - a smile doesn't always represent happiness.

I've always wondered how people fake a smile...

[ A short story about smiling]

About a year ago, I asked myself the same question, and now I can smile and laugh like a pro. This is how I mastered the skill of faking a smile. I hope it becomes useful.

So... For a long time, I've struggled with mental health issues. A friend at school asked me why I never smiled or laughed around a year ago. This struck me, and it made me realize that I should express my emotions more like "normal" people.

I tried to imitate an image of a younger me smiling while looking in the mirror. I performed the grin several times until I was comfortable with it, committing the muscular movements to memory. Then, using a similar manner, I rehearsed a variety of additional facial expressions. After mastering the expressions, I began reading and watching my favorite books and movies, training myself to react appropriately to each situation, such as laughing when someone made a joke, smirking when the antagonist made a mistake, forcing tears to my eyes when a main character died, and so on. I quickly became adept at assessing events and determining the best course of action. After a few months, I had started to sort of "think" emotions and react to them automatically as though I had actually felt them.

This appears to be amazing, but please stay with me to the conclusion.

That's when I realized I'd forgotten what true happiness was all about. I couldn't remember how it felt to laugh for genuine since I was so used to cracking a smile and laughing when it was right. Now, I've fooled all (or almost all) of my friends, instructors, and family into believing that I'm a bright, joyful young teen full of smiles, but in reality, I hide many scars, both new and old, on my arms, wrists, and heart, which is hidden away and protected from emotions.

Dear friend, I apologize if I come across as hypocritical, but I strongly advise you not to begin fake smiles. I understand that it may be required at times, and that everyone gives that one extended relative a courteous forced smile during family gatherings, but please don't live your life behind a cheerful face mask. Admit to yourself and people around you that things are difficult. Find a shoulder to lean on instead of faking a grin. Do something you enjoy and you'll find genuine grins. Give yourself to your emotions rather than burying them and losing them. Be brave.

You'll get through this, I promise.