--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Here's what I think I'm having trouble…" description: "\"“Here's what I think I'm having trouble with: this is what happiness is. When I was a kid, I thought I'd just get happier and happier as I got older, a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/emma-bull-16750_adults_here-s-what-i-think-i-m-having-trouble-w_481000.png" --- # Here's what I think I'm having trouble with: this is what… ![“Here's what I think I'm having trouble with: this is what happiness is. When I was a kid, I thought I'd just get happier and happier as I got older, and have more things to be happy about. I based this theory on observation of select adults. The problem with my results is that I couldn't tell the…” quote by Emma Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/emma-bull-16750_adults_here-s-what-i-think-i-m-having-trouble-w_481000.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/emma-bull-16750_adults_here-s-what-i-think-i-m-having-trouble-w_481000.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/emma-bull-16750_adults_here-s-what-i-think-i-m-having-trouble-w_481000.png) > ““Here's what I think I'm having trouble with: this is what happiness is. When I was a kid, I thought I'd just get happier and happier as I got older, and have more things to be happy about. I based this theory on observation of select adults. The problem with my results is that I couldn't tell the difference then between happy and fake-happy. Now I know you pretend to be just frigging ecstatic over everything, maybe because you're so glad it's not worse.”” [Emma Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-bull/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker reflects that happiness is often confused with forced positivity, realizing that true joy differs from superficial exuberance. **In simple terms:** True happiness is deeper than fake excitement. Key Takeaway Seek authentic joy, not just surface cheer. Themes happiness authenticity emotions Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - mental health - relationships - social media usage Key Concepts psychology social comparison emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - What distinguishes genuine joy from forced positivity? - How can you cultivate authentic happiness? A Different Perspective Fake happiness can mask underlying issues and hinder genuine well‑being. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) [Difference Happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difference-happy-415556/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Ecstatic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ecstatic/) [Fake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fake/) [Fake Happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fake-happy-1193687/) [Glad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glad/) [Happier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happier/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Happiness Kid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness-kid-3447434/) [Happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Observation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observation/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/results/) [Select](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/select/) [Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Trouble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trouble/) [Trouble Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trouble-happiness-2188160/) ## Related quotes > [I am the owner of a million dollars \|'m still far from that happiness \| the kid I used to own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/i-am-the-owner-of-a-million-dollars-m-still-far-from-that-happiness/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [There's not much that I'm closed off about, and the universe gave me all that so I could help people feel like they don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/there-s-not-much-that-i-m-closed-off-about-and-the-universe-gave-me/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [Even if you're unhappy, just pretend that you're happy. Eventually, your smile will be contagious to yourself. I had to learn that, I used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/even-if-you-re-unhappy-just-pretend-that-you-re-happy-eventually-your/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [Do you ever just get that feeling where you don't want to talk to anybody. You don't want to smile and you don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryaj-ablando-catayas-2/do-you-ever-just-get-that-feeling-where-you-don-t-want-to-talk-to/) [Ryaj Ablando-Catayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryaj-ablando-catayas-2/) > [“She’d rather embrace crazy than fake happy. ~Blood in Fire”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-r-blair/she-d-rather-embrace-crazy-than-fake-happy-blood-in-fire/) [Heather R. Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-r-blair/) > [“But I don't ask him anything, because he's driving with that weird fake-happy look on his face, as if he's about to chop me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-king/but-i-don-t-ask-him-anything-because-he-s-driving-with-that-weird/) [A.S. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-king/) > [“Is there any difference between a happy and a lucky man? A happy is someone who finds an oasis with drinking water in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eraldo-banovac/is-there-any-difference-between-a-happy-and-a-lucky-man-a-happy-is/) [Eraldo Banovac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eraldo-banovac/) > [“So no I'm not perfect. I'm still as fucked up as I always was, the only difference is that now I'm happy with it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-s-burnett/so-no-i-m-not-perfect-i-m-still-as-fucked-up-as-i-always-was-the-only/) [R.S. Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-s-burnett/) > [You cannot measure the minute nuance that makes the difference between being happy and unhappy at work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-zeldin/you-cannot-measure-the-minute-nuance-that-makes-the-difference/) [Theodore Zeldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-zeldin/) > [There's a big difference between: I'm happy with you & I'm happy for You.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-a-big-difference-between-i-m-happy-with-you-i-m-happy-for-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I realize that I wasn’t happy. I was content. There’s a world of difference between happy and content.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-realize-that-i-wasn-t-happy-i-was-content-there-s-a-world-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The only difference between a happy and an unhappy person is that the former values what he has and the latter always values what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/everskeptic/the-only-difference-between-a-happy-and-an-unhappy-person-is-that-the/) [EverSkeptic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/everskeptic/) > [The trouble with happiness is people don't practice it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mckenna/the-trouble-with-happiness-is-people-don-t-practice-it/) [Paul McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mckenna/) > [Friends show their love in times of trouble, not in happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/friends-show-their-love-in-times-of-trouble-not-in-happiness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One day you just say "To heck with it," and you go looking for trouble, and you find happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/one-day-you-just-say-to-heck-with-it-and-you-go-looking-for-trouble/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) ## More by Emma Bull > [“Is negative space the space you don't like, or the space that is not there? And if it's not there how can you tell?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-bull/is-negative-space-the-space-you-don-t-like-or-the-space-that-is-not/) [Emma Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-bull/) > [“Falkner sometimes thought her heart was a voodoo doll, full of pins. One each for Ben and the girls. One for each member of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-bull/falkner-sometimes-thought-her-heart-was-a-voodoo-doll-full-of-pins/) [Emma Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-bull/) > [“I see the light at the end of the candle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-bull/i-see-the-light-at-the-end-of-the-candle/) [Emma Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-bull/) > [“The way to get through normal life is to pretend it isn't getting to you. If you let on that you're hurt, the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-bull/the-way-to-get-through-normal-life-is-to-pretend-it-isn-t-getting-to/) [Emma Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-bull/) > [She has her own glamour, Willy lad. All poets do, all the bards and artists, all the musicians who truly take the music into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-bull/she-has-her-own-glamour-willy-lad-all-poets-do-all-the-bards-and/) [Emma Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-bull/) > [Coincidence is the word we use when we can't see the levers and pulleys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-bull/coincidence-is-the-word-we-use-when-we-can-t-see-the-levers-and/) [Emma Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-bull/) > [Could I make you believe something that wasn't true?' He studied her through his eyelashes. 'You could make me believe anything at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-bull/could-i-make-you-believe-something-that-wasn-t-true-he-studied-her/) [Emma Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-bull/) > [She lifted her head. "It's easier," she said, slowly, "to be angry on someone else's behalf than on my own. And yet I find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-bull/she-lifted-her-head-it-s-easier-she-said-slowly-to-be-angry-on/) [Emma Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-bull/) > [“I love you like my own sister. Which is why I won't hesitate to tell you that I don't believe it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-bull/i-love-you-like-my-own-sister-which-is-why-i-won-t-hesitate-to-tell/) [Emma Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-bull/) > [“You're good, did you know that?' Oh, yes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-bull/you-re-good-did-you-know-that-oh-yes/) [Emma Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-bull/) > [They don't know how the world is shaped. And so they give it a shape, and try to make everything fit it. They separate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-bull/they-don-t-know-how-the-world-is-shaped-and-so-they-give-it-a-shape/) [Emma Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-bull/) > [“Every motion she made was slow, as if she’d never before put her arms around a man, and didn’t know for certain where everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-bull/every-motion-she-made-was-slow-as-if-she-d-never-before-put-her-arms/) [Emma Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-bull/) > [We're all immortal until we die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-bull/we-re-all-immortal-until-we-die/) [Emma Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-bull/) > [“If you were anyone else, I'd tell you it's unbecoming to gloat." But you'd tell me..." That even gloating becomes you. It's a sad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-bull/if-you-were-anyone-else-i-d-tell-you-it-s-unbecoming-to-gloat-but-you/) [Emma Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-bull/) > [To those who see the magical surface of things, you are invisible.' Good grief. Will you still be able to see me?' He met…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-bull/to-those-who-see-the-magical-surface-of-things-you-are-invisible-good/) [Emma Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-bull/) [Explore all 37 Emma Bull quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-bull/) ## More Adults quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Almost everywhere we find . . . the use of various coercive measures, to rid ourselves as quickly as possible of the child withinus--i.e.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/almost-everywhere-we-find-the-use-of-various-coercive-measures-to-rid/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [Education, for most people, means trying to lead the child to resemble the typical adult of his society . . . but for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/education-for-most-people-means-trying-to-lead-the-child-to-resemble/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [The Role of Deliberate Practice in the Acquisition of Expert Performance”: “The differences between expert performers and normal adults are not immutable, that is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-anders-ericsson/the-role-of-deliberate-practice-in-the-acquisition-of-expert/) [K. Anders Ericsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-anders-ericsson/) > [Part of life is doing stuff that you don't want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/one-who-does-not-wish-to-be-named/part-of-life-is-doing-stuff-that-you-don-t-want-to-do/) [One Who Does Not Wish To Be Named](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/one-who-does-not-wish-to-be-named/) > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [Kids, if anything, are harder to write for because they are a more discerning audience. They will not stay with you if you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/kids-if-anything-are-harder-to-write-for-because-they-are-a-more/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [On the one hand, we had great filmic spectacles that brought in big audiences, adults as well as primary and secondary school students. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-wajda/on-the-one-hand-we-had-great-filmic-spectacles-that-brought-in-big/) [Andrzej Wajda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-wajda/) > [It's hard to change adults, and it's hard to change it from a political position or a perceived political position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/it-s-hard-to-change-adults-and-it-s-hard-to-change-it-from-a/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [When I was a child at sixteen, I was just a child. All sixteen year-olds are just children. As much as we like them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-abagnale/when-i-was-a-child-at-sixteen-i-was-just-a-child-all-sixteen-year/) [Frank Abagnale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-abagnale/) [Browse all 3,113 Adults quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Here's what I think I'm having trouble with: this is what happiness is. When I was a kid, I thought I'd just get happier and happier as I got older, and have more things to be happy about. I based this theory on observation of select adults. The problem with my results is that I couldn't tell the difference then between happy and fake-happy. 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