Now—imagine putting that on the internet.
“Hey guys! Just had a chill day. No drama. Just peaceful. Felt like myself.”
Doesn’t sound like a post that’s gonna go viral, right?
And maybe that’s the point.
There’s something about keeping little joys to yourself that makes them sweeter. More real. You don’t have to slap a filter on them or wrap them in a caption. You just… feel them. Quietly. Privately. Fully.
A lot of people these days live like they’re narrating their own reality show. “Look at me being happy!” “Look at this amazing dinner!” “Look at how zen I am on this retreat (that I paid too much for)!” But when you post every good moment, it becomes less about living it and more about showing it.
And, yeah, I get it. Sharing is fun. We want people to cheer for us. It’s human. But not everything has to be public. In fact, maybe the best stuff is the stuff you never post. Maybe it’s smarter (and a lot more peaceful) to keep your happiness private.
That phrase — keep your happiness private — it sounds a little mysterious, doesn’t it? Like you’re hiding something. But it’s not about secrecy. It’s about not needing to prove anything. Like, you're happy. You know it. That’s enough. No need to wave it in front of everyone.
Because the minute you share it, it’s up for grabs. People start judging it, questioning it, comparing it to their own stuff. Some folks smile at your good news. Others quietly scroll with that tiny twinge of “why not me?” And some just... ignore it. And then you’re sitting there wondering if your joy wasn’t good enough to get likes. What a weird thing, right?
There’s this one time I was feeling really proud of something. Small thing. I finally got through a week without bailing on my own gym schedule. It doesn’t sound huge, but it felt huge. I almost posted about it. Then I thought... why? So someone can comment, “Good job!” and then scroll past? I just told my friend and treated myself to overpriced sushi. That was enough. That felt like celebration.
And here's the kicker—science backs this up. Yeah, real research. People who keep some positive stuff to themselves tend to feel more satisfied. There’s less pressure. Less performance. One study out of UC Irvine actually linked over-sharing on social media with lower happiness overall. Something about constantly needing validation messes with your head. Go figure.
Also, let’s not forget the weird expectation that comes with being “publicly happy.” Once you post something great, people kind of expect you to keep that energy up. “You were just in Rome, why do you look tired now?” Uh, because I have a job and bills, Brenda.
Sometimes, people use your joy as a measuring stick for their life. That’s not your fault. But it still happens. And when you keep your happiness private, you don’t feed into that cycle. You let your life be yours.
There’s a quiet kind of power in that. Like drinking your morning coffee in silence, watching the world wake up, and thinking: “Yeah. This is good.” And no one else has to know.
I’m not saying you should never share. Big wins, birthdays, stuff that genuinely calls for a toast—sure, go for it. But don’t feel like you have to. Especially not to prove something. Especially not to people who don’t even know how you take your coffee.
You don’t owe anyone access to your peace.
So next time something makes you smile, maybe don’t reach for your phone right away. Maybe sit with it. Keep it close. Like a tiny treasure in your pocket that only you know about.You’ll be surprised how good that feels.
And hey—if no one clicks “like,” did the happiness even happen?
Yes. Yes, it did. And maybe that’s the best kind.