By Laurel Leicht, Glamour
Saying someone's being "fake" sounds like a complaint straight from "The Bachelor." But according to a new study, that's just the impression people get when you're not honest about your feelings. Apparently, it's better to just tell people how you really feel than to give an offhand, polite response to a question like "How are you?"
Researchers from the University of Oregon found that when people masked their feelings -- even if they were trying to avoid sharing negative emotions with others -- they were perceived as unpleasant, distant, less extroverted and less likable. In other words, putting on a happy face and trying not to dump your bad mood on your friends or coworkers might actually backfire. So don't do this:
What people would rather hear? The truth. Imagine that! So instead of just saying "I'm fine," you might want to try "Eh, I've been better."
"It's been a rough day" and "Not my finest hour" would work too. It might take some getting used to, but it can improve relationships between you and those around you. It might help benefit your mood too: Researchers found that holding back negative feelings only made participants more upset, and those who did this reported less satisfaction with their social life and a tougher time getting close to others.
Gifs via Giphy.
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