--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even if you're unhappy, just pretend that…" description: "\"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 to think, I'..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/309/evangeline-lilly-1168_better_even-if-you-re-unhappy-just-pretend-that_2312406.png" --- # Even if you're unhappy, just pretend that you're happy… ![“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 to think, I'm being fake, but you know what? Better to be fake and happy than real and miserable.” quote by Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/309/evangeline-lilly-1168_better_even-if-you-re-unhappy-just-pretend-that_2312406.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/309/evangeline-lilly-1168_better_even-if-you-re-unhappy-just-pretend-that_2312406.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/309/evangeline-lilly-1168_better_even-if-you-re-unhappy-just-pretend-that_2312406.png) > “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 to think, I'm being fake, but you know what? Better to be fake and happy than real and miserable.” [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Suggests faking happiness can eventually lead to genuine positive feelings, challenging the stigma of “being fake.” **In simple terms:** Pretend happiness can become real over time. Key Takeaway Use positive facial expression to improve mood. Themes psychology self‑help emotional regulation positivity Mood hopeful pragmatic Type self‑help psychology When to use this quote - daily routine - mental health practice - social interactions Key Concepts Cognitive‑behavioral theory mirror neurons self‑fulfilling prophecy Questions to Reflect On - Can forced positivity improve mental health? - When does authenticity matter more? A Different Perspective Sustaining fake happiness may feel inauthentic for some. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/) [Contagious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contagious/) [Eventually Smile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eventually-smile-3597992/) [Fake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fake/) [Fake Happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fake-happy-1193687/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Healthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healthy/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Learn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learn/) [Miserable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miserable/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [Pretend Happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretend-happy-319916/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Smile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smile/) [Smile Contagious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smile-contagious-787522/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Unhappy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappy/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [Well being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/well-being/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) [Your smile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your-smile/) ## Related quotes > [“It was nice to meet you,” I say loudly in a more formal tone than I used when we were alone. And then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-christine-parker/it-was-nice-to-meet-you-i-say-loudly-in-a-more-formal-tone-than-i/) [Amy Christine Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-christine-parker/) > [“Remember, a smile is more contagious than the coronavirus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-madden/remember-a-smile-is-more-contagious-than-the-coronavirus/) [Bill Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-madden/) > [I doubt she likes the idea of seeing him put back in a cage.” “Maybe not,” he said. “But she knows that the Authority…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-monk/i-doubt-she-likes-the-idea-of-seeing-him-put-back-in-a-cage-maybe-not/) [Devon Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-monk/) > [For Peter's smile is a most contagious thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brom/for-peter-s-smile-is-a-most-contagious-thing/) [Brom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brom/) > [Your smile is contagious, no matter how angry or sad I am, all I need is to take one look at your smile and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-rowe/your-smile-is-contagious-no-matter-how-angry-or-sad-i-am-all-i-need/) [Rashida Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-rowe/) > [Peter glanced up at the stars and a wicked smile lit his face. "Time to play," he whispered to the stars and winked. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brom/peter-glanced-up-at-the-stars-and-a-wicked-smile-lit-his-face-time-to/) [Brom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brom/) > [Your smile is contagious, pass it on to everyone around. Make everyone happy all along! Merry Christmas!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-smile-is-contagious-pass-it-on-to-everyone-around-make-everyone/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Smile it's contagious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/smile-it-s-contagious/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Smile¦ A smile is contagious you catch it like a flu cause when I see you smile, it makes me smile too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/smile-a-smile-is-contagious-you-catch-it-like-a-flu-cause-when-i-see/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Have patience with your life. Eventually you will smile too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitta-xinindlu/have-patience-with-your-life-eventually-you-will-smile-too/) [Mitta Xinindlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitta-xinindlu/) > [Just keep smiling and someone will eventually smile back to you...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/just-keep-smiling-and-someone-will-eventually-smile-back-to-you/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-bull/here-s-what-i-think-i-m-having-trouble-with-this-is-what-happiness-is/) [Emma Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-bull/) ## More by Evangeline Lilly > [You can't have a movie with a group of people that are significant players in the story, that push forward the plot, without introducing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/you-can-t-have-a-movie-with-a-group-of-people-that-are-significant/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I'm a very stubborn woman and I'm from a very stubborn family of headstrong women. I have sisters, so the women rule the coop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/i-m-a-very-stubborn-woman-and-i-m-from-a-very-stubborn-family-of/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [One of the things that I miss about Canada is that even the strangers, you have an immediate rapport, there's just an understanding that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/one-of-the-things-that-i-miss-about-canada-is-that-even-the-strangers/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [People initially think I'm a snob because I'm intensely private.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/people-initially-think-i-m-a-snob-because-i-m-intensely-private/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I actually write as a passion, as something I actually am more passionate about than acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/i-actually-write-as-a-passion-as-something-i-actually-am-more/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I like to be around people who make me laugh. It's one of my favorite things on a set. I hate it when people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/i-like-to-be-around-people-who-make-me-laugh-it-s-one-of-my-favorite/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I am kind of prudish and I have very strict standards about how I present myself. But one of the things that I've always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/i-am-kind-of-prudish-and-i-have-very-strict-standards-about-how-i/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [Outside of acting, the person that I admire the most is my mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/outside-of-acting-the-person-that-i-admire-the-most-is-my-mother/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [Truthfully, I love being in the jungle. I love it when the make-up artists come to set, they come equipped with dirt and sweat.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/truthfully-i-love-being-in-the-jungle-i-love-it-when-the-make-up/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I was a massive Tolkien fan. 'The Hobbit' was... my favorite book as a little girl, and the Silvan Elves were my favorite characters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/i-was-a-massive-tolkien-fan-the-hobbit-was-my-favorite-book-as-a/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I'm not stressed out about where my next paycheck is coming from, or what I am doing with the rest of my life. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/i-m-not-stressed-out-about-where-my-next-paycheck-is-coming-from-or/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [Hollywood is the Sodom and Gomorrah of today. It's a world I avoid because it's destroying our culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/hollywood-is-the-sodom-and-gomorrah-of-today-it-s-a-world-i-avoid/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I've been astounded to discover how good to their teams and crew that Marvel are. They're so collaborative, so smart with their stories. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/i-ve-been-astounded-to-discover-how-good-to-their-teams-and-crew-that/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I changed jobs like I changed shirts. It was something I just like to do - I like trying my hand at everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/i-changed-jobs-like-i-changed-shirts-it-was-something-i-just-like-to/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I always wear something slightly masculine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/i-always-wear-something-slightly-masculine/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) [Explore all 280 Evangeline Lilly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) ## More Better quotes > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [Everybody has their cliques, and I was very shy. I'm still very shy. Music opened up doors. 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I'm not so good at understated, kitchen-sink kinds of parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/the-bigger-the-canvas-the-better-i-do-i-m-not-so-good-at-understated/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [The Little you Give !! The Better it Gets !!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-stanyer/the-little-you-give-the-better-it-gets/) [Mario Stanyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-stanyer/) > [A strong, durable Puerto Rican economy will leave the island better prepared to handle future natural disasters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/a-strong-durable-puerto-rican-economy-will-leave-the-island-better/) [Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/) > [In my first 100 days as Ontario's Minister of Transportation, I found a willing municipal partner in the City of Toronto that shares our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-mulroney/in-my-first-100-days-as-ontario-s-minister-of-transportation-i-found/) [Caroline Mulroney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-mulroney/) > [It hasn't been a conscious thing, like, 'I don't want to listen to a bunch of dudes,' but I genuinely like music by women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soccer-mommy/it-hasn-t-been-a-conscious-thing-like-i-don-t-want-to-listen-to-a/) [Soccer Mommy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soccer-mommy/) > [Life is going to hit you some line drives, and sometimes you'll have to think fast. 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I think of it like building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harbaugh/absolutely-you-can-improve-and-become-better-at-toughness-it-s-a/) [Jim Harbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harbaugh/) > [Not having drops and not taking plays off, if I do that it will make everyone around me better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demaryius-thomas/not-having-drops-and-not-taking-plays-off-if-i-do-that-it-will-make/) [Demaryius Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demaryius-thomas/) > [Cara Delevingne and I took an eyebrow selfie. We both have prominent eyebrows, but hers are much better than mine. Maybe we should do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-poulter/cara-delevingne-and-i-took-an-eyebrow-selfie-we-both-have-prominent/) [Will Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-poulter/) > [I never really look at it past one year. I look at last year and my whole goal is to be a better player…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-williams/i-never-really-look-at-it-past-one-year-i-look-at-last-year-and-my/) [Trent Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-williams/) [Browse all 17,085 Better quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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 to think, I'm being fake, but you know what? 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