--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You don't feel like smiling? Then what?…" description: "\"You don't feel like smiling? Then what? Force yourself to smile. Act as if you were already happy, and that will tend to make you happy.\" — Celeste Ng" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b64/celeste-ng-1718_feels_you-don-t-feel-like-smiling-then-what-fo_1355786.jpg" --- # You don't feel like smiling? Then what? Force yourself to… ![“You don't feel like smiling? Then what? Force yourself to smile. Act as if you were already happy, and that will tend to make you happy.” quote by Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b64/celeste-ng-1718_feels_you-don-t-feel-like-smiling-then-what-fo_1355786.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b64/celeste-ng-1718_feels_you-don-t-feel-like-smiling-then-what-fo_1355786.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b64/celeste-ng-1718_feels_you-don-t-feel-like-smiling-then-what-fo_1355786.jpg) > “You don't feel like smiling? Then what? Force yourself to smile. Act as if you were already happy, and that will tend to make you happy.” [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Forced positivity can be a coping strategy, using the act of smiling to influence one's emotional state. **In simple terms:** Smile to feel happier. Key Takeaway Practice intentional positivity. Themes psychology emotions behavioral change Mood encouraging thoughtful Type self‑help psychological When to use this quote - therapy sessions - stress management - team building - self‑help workshops Key Concepts Positive psychology mind‑body connection Questions to Reflect On - When is forced positivity harmful? - How can authenticity coexist with optimism? A Different Perspective May suppress genuine feelings. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Smile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smile/) [Smiling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smiling/) ## Related quotes > [Act as if you were already happy and that will tend to make you happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/act-as-if-you-were-already-happy-and-that-will-tend-to-make-you-happy/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [Before puberty, it seems like I was more or less smiling a lot. I was really outgoing and wanted to have a happy life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oneohtrix-point-never/before-puberty-it-seems-like-i-was-more-or-less-smiling-a-lot-i-was/) [Oneohtrix Point Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oneohtrix-point-never/) > [“It was like smiling at a gargoyle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhys-bowen/it-was-like-smiling-at-a-gargoyle/) [Rhys Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhys-bowen/) > [I always come across like I'm looking serious, but I just don't like smiling. Honestly, obviously I'm different in person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-o-riordan/i-always-come-across-like-i-m-looking-serious-but-i-just-don-t-like/) [Dolores O'Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-o-riordan/) > [You can call me what you like and you can tell people what you like.. but I will still be smiling no matter what,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nika-nicole-wood/you-can-call-me-what-you-like-and-you-can-tell-people-what-you-like/) Nika Nicole Wood > [Some people look good after plastic surgery but not when it's to the extreme. It's like, 'Here I am smiling and here I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-harding/some-people-look-good-after-plastic-surgery-but-not-when-it-s-to-the/) [Sarah Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-harding/) > [“I just like smiling. Smiling's my favorite”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-the-elf/i-just-like-smiling-smiling-s-my-favorite/) Buddy the Elf > [If you force yourself to smile, within a couple minutes, you feel happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-norris/if-you-force-yourself-to-smile-within-a-couple-minutes-you-feel-happy/) [Dean Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-norris/) > [He who is sorrowful can force himself to smile, but he who is glad cannot weep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selma-lagerl-f/he-who-is-sorrowful-can-force-himself-to-smile-but-he-who-is-glad/) [Selma Lagerlöf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selma-lagerl-f/) > [Jem put the full force of himself into each smile, so that he seemed to be smiling with his eyes, his heart, his whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/jem-put-the-full-force-of-himself-into-each-smile-so-that-he-seemed/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [With kids, they force you to get out of bed. They force you to smile. They remind you of spontaneity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-d-aguiar/with-kids-they-force-you-to-get-out-of-bed-they-force-you-to-smile/) [Fred D'Aguiar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-d-aguiar/) > [Sometimes it's hard to force a smile, but sometimes we have to; It's what gets us through the hard times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-it-s-hard-to-force-a-smile-but-sometimes-we-have-to-it-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Just because I can force a smile doesnt mean I'm happy & just because I can fake a laugh doesnt mean I'm ok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/just-because-i-can-force-a-smile-doesnt-mean-i-m-happy-just-because-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“No matter how much madder it may make you, get out of bed forcing a smile. You may not smile because you are cheerful;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-good/no-matter-how-much-madder-it-may-make-you-get-out-of-bed-forcing-a/) Kenneth Good > [Even if I'm not having the best time in a social situation, I'll force a smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mccary/even-if-i-m-not-having-the-best-time-in-a-social-situation-i-ll-force/) [Dave McCary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mccary/) ## More by Celeste Ng > [When you mention to people growing up in Cleveland they bring up the river catching on fire, or LeBron James leaving, they have these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/when-you-mention-to-people-growing-up-in-cleveland-they-bring-up-the/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [It's so easy, as a writer, to get stuck in your own head, to live in the little worlds you create. To forget that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/it-s-so-easy-as-a-writer-to-get-stuck-in-your-own-head-to-live-in-the/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [“All up and down the street the houses looked like any others—but inside them were people who might be happy, or taking refuge, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/all-up-and-down-the-street-the-houses-looked-like-any-others-but/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [No reader wants to sit through the same scene four times in a row, unless they're radically different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/no-reader-wants-to-sit-through-the-same-scene-four-times-in-a-row/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [Debut novels are difficult because nobody knows you... they just don't find a huge audience, because that's how the market works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/debut-novels-are-difficult-because-nobody-knows-you-they-just-don-t/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [We have to figure out why we see the world in different ways and then how are we going to adjust so that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/we-have-to-figure-out-why-we-see-the-world-in-different-ways-and-then/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [“I have measured my life with coffee spoons and do I dare to eat a peach?' 'DO I DARE DISTURB THE UNIVERSE?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/i-have-measured-my-life-with-coffee-spoons-and-do-i-dare-to-eat-a/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [“No one, she had learned from experience, could stand such silence for long. If you waited long enough, someone would start talking, and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/no-one-she-had-learned-from-experience-could-stand-such-silence-for/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [“Most of the time, everyone deserves more than one chance. We all do things we regret now and then. You just have to carry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/most-of-the-time-everyone-deserves-more-than-one-chance-we-all-do/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [“Though she would never quite articulate it this way, resentment began to sheathe concern. ANGER IS FEAR'S BODYGUARD, a poster in the hospital hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/though-she-would-never-quite-articulate-it-this-way-resentment-began/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [Spend too much time alone with your own words, and your writing grows anemic, in dire need of a transfusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/spend-too-much-time-alone-with-your-own-words-and-your-writing-grows/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [“Everyone sees race, Lex," said Moody. "The only difference is who pretends not to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/everyone-sees-race-lex-said-moody-the-only-difference-is-who-pretends/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [Writers, most of them, don't have a lot of resources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/writers-most-of-them-don-t-have-a-lot-of-resources/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [Browse Amazon reviews, and you'll see a surprising number of readers who believe one novel can summarize a country, its culture, and its people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/browse-amazon-reviews-and-you-ll-see-a-surprising-number-of-readers/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [Short of the dishonest, the illegal, and the cruel, there's only one thing my son could do that would really disappoint me: not liking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/short-of-the-dishonest-the-illegal-and-the-cruel-there-s-only-one/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) [Explore all 212 Celeste Ng quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) ## More Feels quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We all know what it feels like to love someone and care about them and want to protect them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiana-madeira/we-all-know-what-it-feels-like-to-love-someone-and-care-about-them/) [Kiana Madeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiana-madeira/) > [Pain is meant to wake us up. People try to hide their pain. But they're wrong. Pain is something to carry, like a radio.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-morrison/pain-is-meant-to-wake-us-up-people-try-to-hide-their-pain-but-they-re/) [Jim Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-morrison/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [Most days, I go home and I feel rejuvenated. I feel ebullient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddhartha-mukherjee/most-days-i-go-home-and-i-feel-rejuvenated-i-feel-ebullient/) [Siddhartha Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddhartha-mukherjee/) > [Do you think that God would separate me from my husband if I killed myself? I feel as though I am going out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-you-think-that-god-would-separate-me-from-my-husband-if-i-killed/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [Personal Style comes from within. It's when the woman, her individuality and spirit come through. She uses clothes to express who she is and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-karan/personal-style-comes-from-within-it-s-when-the-woman-her/) [Donna Karan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-karan/) > [(knitting while on a motorcycle) "For several years she knitted in secret (my father would not approve; she was to concentrate on motorcycling and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-zimmermann/knitting-while-on-a-motorcycle-for-several-years-she-knitted-in/) [Elizabeth Zimmermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-zimmermann/) > [Then come to realize that you're making mountains out of molehills. Realize how petty you've become. Sure, it may feel like you can't get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-asher/then-come-to-realize-that-you-re-making-mountains-out-of-molehills/) [Jay Asher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-asher/) > [A lot of indigenous cultures are deeply involved in working with ancestor spirits, elemental spirits, and demons. Many of these cultures feel that, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pinchbeck/a-lot-of-indigenous-cultures-are-deeply-involved-in-working-with/) [Daniel Pinchbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pinchbeck/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [I feel like I could eat the world raw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/i-feel-like-i-could-eat-the-world-raw/) [Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/) Browse all 38,933 Feels quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You don't feel like smiling? Then what? Force yourself to smile. 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