When done right, faking it is effective.
Emotions like stress run high during tough times, especially in the professional world, where financial security is up in the air for businesses and employees alike. The uncertainty makes it even more important to appreciate your job—and if you don't, it's something you have to learn through practice.
One way you can get there is by faking positivity. When done right, it can actually help you adopt a brighter disposition that feels natural, not forced.
Researchers say there are two different ways to fake what you’re feeling. Surface acting is essentially changing your behavior, often in response to a negative event (hiding annoyed feelings from a demanding boss, for example). Deep acting, on the other hand, involves changing your inner thoughts and feelings to influence your actions (when annoyed, you might take a client’s perspective to show genuine concern).
Surface acting is usually more draining and effortful, but less effective, than deep acting, explains Alicia A. Grandey, Ph.D., a professor of industrial-organizational psychology at Penn State University in University Park. Research shows that in the short term, deep acting can help you feel more accomplished and seem more genuine with fewer downsides.
Of course, in ongoing relationships, authenticity is better, says Grandey. Faking positivity over and over again will lead to superficial relationships, which will ultimately make you feel less satisfied, adds Sari Chait, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and founder of Behavioral Health and Wellness Center in Newton, Massachusetts. Consistently hiding your true feelings can also breed resentment.
When work situations call for a little bit of an act (surface or deep), consider these strategies to turn negative vibes into positive ones.