From The Confessional: We’re Done With Fake Nonsense, Thanks

Ugh, is there anything worse than fake people? Having to pretend to get along with snarky moms you can’t stand while you’re stuck at school pickup. Or making small talk during Thanksgiving with that relative who makes backhanded comments about women’s bodies while passing the sweet potatoes. And let’s not forget the phoniness that sometimes creeps into our own relationships—faking pleasure during intimate moments or pretending to enjoy your partner’s company when you can’t stand the sound of their breathing.

Being fake is exhausting. Knowing that others are being inauthentic with us is equally draining. But it’s a game many of us play at various points—whether it’s with coworkers, in-laws, or that two-faced friend from church who acts holier than thou but gossips about everyone behind their backs. Nobody likes that friend.

Confessions About Fake Behavior

Here are some candid confessions about how irritating fake behavior can be, even if we find ourselves participating in it.

“Cancel all the holiday get-togethers! I never want to see any of you fake folks again!”

Confession #25839517: “I can’t confront my parents about their passive-aggressive comments. They say they love me but act like I don’t exist when it comes to family plans. It drives me crazy!”

Confession #25825083: “I can’t stand my mother-in-law. She pretends to care about me to my husband but makes sly remarks. If there’s any more nonsense during family gatherings, it’s either a divorce or no more family events.”

Confession #25825026: “Honestly, 99.9% of people are painfully boring, myself included. Holiday parties feel like torture. Maybe this year, we should skip the fake niceties and dive into genuine conversations instead.”

Confession #25758906: “Fake in-laws are the absolute worst! I’m already stressed about my kid making a mess, and now I have to pretend to like my sister-in-law who sells every kind of MLM product under the sun? No thanks.”

Confession #22911356: “The pastor’s wife throws extravagant birthday parties and posts endless pictures of her decorations. It’s so transparent when she pretends to be humble about it.”

Confession #25839419: “I’m done with church. The bigotry and politics preached here in Texas are exhausting. This isn’t what Christ taught. I still identify as Christian but won’t step foot in a church again.”

Confession #25829587: “I fake a smile and say I’m fine at church, but inside, I’m struggling. I feel so isolated among people who profess to be kind.”

Confession #1661672: “Church often feels like a gathering of the most inauthentic individuals. Isn’t Christianity supposed to be about kindness? How can you call yourself a ‘child of God’ while spreading rumors?”

Confession #25838280: “My partner is a Twitter personality who spends all day ‘networking’ online. If only his followers knew he’s just lounging in dirty sweatpants, glued to his phone.”

Confession #25835372: “The annual anniversary post about how he’s the only one I want to ‘do life with’ feels forced, especially this year. I wonder how many see through the facade.”

Confession #25833959: “My friends in the makeup business always post about discovering new trends. It’s so phony! Can’t stand the MLM culture.”

The Illusion of Perfection on Social Media

And then there’s social media. We all know someone who portrays a perfect life online, complete with a stunning home and picture-perfect kids, while in reality, they’re deeply unhappy.

Confession #25833575: “I timed my exit from my mother-in-law’s birthday lunch perfectly, only so many hours of fake smiles I can manage for someone who has made my life difficult for 25 years.”

Confession #25831368: “I find myself crying alone in the shower while pretending to be fine on Zoom meetings. The pressure of maintaining appearances is suffocating.”

Confession #25830859: “I’ve become so good at faking happiness, but inside, I’m falling apart.”

When We Are the Ones Being Fake

Sometimes it’s us who are putting on the act. We endure unsatisfying jobs and relationships, smiling on the outside while wishing we could escape.

Confession #15572719: “I told my husband not to call me for phone sex; it feels too forced.”

Confession #25833280: “Haven’t been intimate with my husband in weeks. He thinks he’s punishing me, but honestly, I’m over pretending to care.”

Confession #25830638: “I want to leave my husband. We have three kids, and I need to keep things together until I finish nursing school. Faking my way through this is going to be tough.”

Having to pretend with your own partner can feel like a nightmare, especially when you crave genuine support and connection. It can leave you questioning if anyone truly cares.

Confession #25830839: “If only family members acted as loving as they pretend to be, maybe I wouldn’t feel so disconnected from them.”

Confession #25751775: “I’m so tired of the mean-mom cliques. One mom makes sure my daughter feels excluded while acting sweet in front of teachers. People can be so fake.”

It’s painful when those we thought we could rely on—fellow moms, family, or church members—turn out to be insincere. You can feel lost and unsure if you can trust anyone again.

Striving for Authenticity

Phony individuals are a constant in life and likely won’t change. The best we can do is strive for authenticity. Seek out genuine friendships and surround ourselves with those who accept us for who we are—the real us. When we build an inner circle of true friends, dealing with the fake nonsense becomes much more manageable.

At the end of the day, you know who you genuinely are.

For more insights on this topic, check out this blog post.

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Summary:

The post explores the challenges of dealing with fake individuals in various aspects of life—from family gatherings to social media portrayals. It emphasizes the importance of authenticity and building genuine relationships, while also acknowledging that many people, including ourselves, can fall into the trap of inauthenticity. Ultimately, the piece encourages readers to seek out true connections to alleviate the burden of fake interactions.