A Fake War: Unmasking the Paradox

Arvind Sawla
4 min readAug 27, 2023

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In a world where appearances often take priority over genuine emotions, it’s intriguing how we frequently wear masks of contentment while struggling within. This article delves into the intricacies of this phenomenon and explores the reasons behind our inclination to prioritize diplomatic gestures over authentic expressions.

It’s amazing how we curse our own life and smile in front of whole world, knowing it’s fake, world around you respond back with another fake one.

We feel, being with a family with the people who aren’t one and stay away from the one who are, and realise the same when it’s all over.

Over the time diplomatism becomes more important than the feelings and thoughts. It becomes more important for us to say what other want to listen or expecting to, than what you actually want to.

Why is it that we always complaint that others don’t understand, though we never tried to do the same.

And the one who does gets tired with the same thought that why don’t anyone understand. Ultimately giving up only becomes an option..

But it’s not about giving up, it’s more about the struggle and the hustle to not to reach at that point of giving up, the inner fight which no one can see behind the dominating fake smile, because afterall it’s a competition and may be your fake smile becomes insecurity for someone and they get their fake smile back and may be wider than the last time, just to beat you, without realizing that they actually just lost.

Lost the actual themselves.

Lost the smile.

And the FAKE beats the FAKE.. in the search of reality.

- Arvind Sawla

Humans are funny creatures. We often put on a show for the world, hiding our real emotions behind smiles and polite words. Strangely, we’re aware that our smiles are fake and the feelings beneath them aren’t so cheerful. What’s interesting is that the world often responds in the same way, engaging in shallow interactions mirroring our own.

Things get tricky when it comes to family. We sometimes invest a lot of time and effort in relationships that don’t really fill our emotional cup, unintentionally neglecting those who truly matter. It’s only afterward that we realize the cost of these choices — missed chances to build deeper connections with those we love. Regret can be a strong teacher, pushing us to rethink our priorities and search for authenticity in our interactions.

Getting through social situations often means being diplomatic rather than truthful. We say what others want to hear, often at the expense of our own feelings. This habit becomes second nature over time, causing us to lose touch with our genuine thoughts and emotions. The fear of not meeting societal expectations or letting others down can lead us to hide our true selves, leaving us feeling distant and unsatisfied.

It’s quite common to complain that others don’t understand our struggles, even though we rarely put in the effort to understand theirs. This reveals an interesting paradox: we want understanding but don’t always offer it in return. This mismatch can lead to feelings of isolation and keep the cycle of insincere interactions going. Real empathy and understanding could break this cycle, but they need openness and effort, which can be a bit daunting.

Behind our practiced smiles, there’s often an unseen battle. The struggle to be true to ourselves while fitting into society’s norms is a fight that often goes unnoticed. The real smile hiding behind the fake one carries many emotions we keep hidden — untold stories, and unspoken desires. Recognizing this battle is important, and it’s good to understand that being authentic doesn’t mean being weak. It takes a lot of strength to be open and show our true selves to the world.

In the race to put up the best front, we forget that the real competitor is ourselves. The urge to outdo others with a more giant, seemingly more authentic smile often means giving up our authenticity. The quest for approval from others blinds us to the fact that being authentic is rewarding. The only competition that matters is the one we have with our past selves.

Living in a world where appearances rule can be emotionally exhausting. However, it’s important to realize that authenticity is the answer to this ongoing puzzle. Embracing vulnerability, valuing real connections over surface-level ones, and acknowledging the battles behind our smiles are the first steps toward living a more authentic life. Breaking free from the cycle of insincere interactions takes effort, empathy, and a willingness to both give and receive understanding. Ultimately, it’s by striving for authenticity that we find genuine happiness and fulfillment, free from the burden of keeping up a flawless facade.

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Arvind Sawla

A book with 365 days of raw experience. I just laugh a little and make you laugh a little. And if I ever feel like it, I'll make you cry a little.