Fake It Till You Make It I Vanessa Van Edwards I @melrobbins

Key Concepts

• Fake it till you make it
• Authentic happiness
• Contagiousness of emotions
• Impact and influence
• Mood change

The Ineffectiveness of "Fake it Till You Make It"

The speaker expresses a dislike for the "fake it till you make it" approach, acknowledging its utility for some individuals to "step into themselves." However, the core argument is that "fake" does not truly work, particularly in spreading positive emotions.

Research on Authentic vs. Fake Smiles

Dr. Barbara Wild and her associates conducted a study to investigate the impact of authentic and fake smiles. Participants were shown images of people exhibiting genuine happiness.

• Authentic Smiles: Individuals who viewed pictures of authentically smiling people experienced a mood improvement. The study found that "real happiness is more contagious."
• Fake Smiles: Conversely, participants who looked at pictures of fake smiles showed "no mood change at all." This indicates that artificial expressions of happiness do not elicit a positive emotional response in observers.

Impact on Contagiousness and Influence

The research suggests that authentic happiness is a more potent tool for spreading positivity, likability, and overall good mood. While fake smiles do not negatively impact the observer's mood (they simply have "no mood change at all"), they are less effective in creating a contagious emotional effect.

The speaker frames this by stating that being fake "just makes you less impactful and influential."

Conclusion and Nuance

While the speaker does not endorse faking emotions, they offer a nuanced perspective:

• If employing "fake it till you make it" is a necessary tool for personal growth or to "get through the day," it is deemed acceptable. The detrimental effect on others is minimal, as it only results in a lack of mood change rather than a negative one.
• The primary takeaway is that authentic happiness is demonstrably more contagious and influential than artificial displays.