Everybody is faking it to some degree. Some of the most successful people I know are driven by a desire to not be found out that they’re no good (in their opinion).

I certainly have on occasions. If I am feeling crappy. Feel unsure about what I am doing but need to appear confident. There are lots of times when I have worked to appear like I know what I am doing, when I don’t actually feel so sure at all.

I fake liking my life until “a better one comes along!”

Is the term “faking it” used to describe a level of dishonesty with others about some condition in one’s life? If so, then sure. In my opinion, this is inevitable because most of the time we are incapable of being truly honest with ourselves. Most people are so disconnected with reality that I can ignore a certain level of dishonesty.

It goes along with visualization and “imagineering”. If done with focused intention it’s a kind of training. You can prepare yourself for success and negotiate some situations ahead of time.
Consider it a “reach” instead of a “fake” until you fill your new shoes.
If there isn’t a real intention to fill those shoes then you have a real “fake” on your hands and you might as well do something else you believe in.

@meisosis nailed it. Faking enthusiasm with some of the creepiest of customers is the only way I stay profitable.

I’m faking procrastination… or am I?

I interpret this terminology to apply to certain situations, as others have mentioned, primarily @Bellatrix

Acting as ‘if’ when in doubt, when feeling stuck, slightly depressed, unsure of your next move.

I disagree though, with applying it to other unconscious people, in the sense of returning fakery for fakery. This then becomes, IMO, duplicity on all behalfs.

Telling yourself ” I am a non-smoker” when trying to quit, is one thing.

But, if you find yourself faking most of your work or personal interactions, maybe time to find a new job or some new friends that allow for authenticity.

I have heard this mostly in the context of managing emotions. If you want to be happy, fake it. Eventually you will actually feel happy.

Doesn’t work for me. It usually makes me feel worse, because I fake it and I don’t make it and then I think there’s something wrong with me and it gives me another reason to despise myself.

Now in other contexts, it might make more sense. Like if I act like I am successful or confident, then people will respond to me as if I am successful or confident, and then I will feel like I am successful or confident. But I guess I don’t see that as faking it. It’s more just a sales technique. But most importantly, I believe I should be successful. I believe in my product. I know that all I need to do is to change my approach to the customer and I’ll be fine.

That kind of faking it has nothing to do with me. It’s just a tactic. I can be happy or sad or whatever and still pull that off. I don’t feel good about myself because I can act. I don’t feel good about myself because I can analyze things well. I don’t feel good about myself because I know things. I don’t feel good about myself because I can make music or write. I don’t feel good about myself for anything I have done or can do.

I only feel good about myself because I feel good about myself. That can’t be faked.

I used to. It worked.

I stopped faking it about 2 years ago. Funnily enough my chronic depression ended at about the same time… :-D

@downtide

ZING! Good show old chap! ;-)

If it’s profitable, yeah. It works.