“Pretending to be happy is easier than actually being happy — pretending is more profitable, but also more expensive.”

I loved this the first time I read it, then I thought to myself, how is it more expensive though? Without having any expectation of you taking the time to expand on this, then I’d dare suggest otherwise:

“Pretending to be happy is easier than actually being happy — pretending is more profitable, but also less rewarding”

I only say this from a perspective of overthinking (undoubtedly) the analogy here. In my case, it’s less “expensive” because it takes less effort to pretend being happy then it is to genuinely feel happy. Pretending to be fine and dandy when you’re hurting inside from a recent tragedy as a means of mitigating the worries from others is easier than reminding yourself of all the reasons to be happy and in turn change how you feel about a particular circumstance.

But, this is also why I agree with it being more profitable because you help more people by causing less worry rather than helping the one person who needed it the most, yourself (by not genuinely being happy within). However, arguably one might say that the latter option would help yourself and those who would have been concerned and thus “more profitable.” Hence I recognize for myself a lack of the frame of reference.

So then, I guess I have no choice but to rely on the unknown likelihood or possibility that you would take the time to provide a response and answer this question: Would you elaborate more on your quote about happiness versus pretending to be happy?