I have a confession to make… Despite the sometimes goofy and playful personality most people receive when they really get to know me, or my tagline “Finding light during the nights in life,” I am not or was I ever a naturally optimistic person.
Instead of searching for the good in situations, and even people, I was very critical and had a hard time believing anything was genuine. If something was going well I wondered, how long would it last? If someone helped me, what did I owe them? In my heart of hearts I believed that I was being a realist rather than a pessimist. But, also in my heart of hearts I knew that always expecting something bad to happen was why I received just that, and I became miserable. When I finally had enough, which took series downward spirals, (I can be a stubborn woman) I decided that in order for me to be truly happy I had to become someone I felt I wasn’t, a person who honestly loved and expressed it in all facets of life. That meant seeing good in myself even when I felt I wasn’t, or when I felt no one else would, seeing good in others even if I felt they were just plain rotten, and seeing the bigger picture in circumstances, even when I felt my back was against the wall. This took time and constant effort, and is an ongoing process. It started with….you guessed it, faking it. That’s right! I faked it until I became the generally, and now genuinely optimistic person I am today.
When I first heard the concept “Fake it til you make it,” I thought, how can that be genuine? If I don’t want to mask my personality, why should I act happy when I don’t feel happy? So, I read a little more about the concept to get a better understanding of the power, and benefits of it when utilized for true positive change.
I concluded that by “faking” being a loving person who was brave, smart, and who lived a genuine and purposeful life was no act. When I set out to change my negative thinking and behavioral patterns, I became the person I desired. And of course, I’m still a work in progress 🙂
What do you think about the “Fake it til you make it” concept? Should this concept be applied to any and all circumstances and situations?
Lynn,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings. Personally, I try not to “fake it.” I came to realize that life will “always” have ups and downs. There is a “duality” of life. And a constant struggle for me to find “truth.”
There’s good and bad, night and day, ups and downs, east and west; I think you know what I mean. When times get hard it’s good to go into auto-pilot. Like pilots do when the jet or airplane their flying starts going into a nose dive. You just hang on and wait it out. All things will pass…
In addition, there’s really nothing wrong with being alone–there’s peace in solitude…
I look forward to reading more from you…
Take good care…
George Zapo
Hmmm a “duality” of life and constant struggle to find “truth” yes, I supposed if you look at that way then “faking” it isn’t truly “faking” it but simply keeping face throughout your struggles. Or, discipling yourself to get out of habbits and circustamces you no loger want for your life? Also, I agree there is peace in solitude and it’s an great oppurtunity for reflection. Thanks for sharing your thoughts as well.