The Dictatorship of Happiness — Script (Unfiltered Edition)
The one where being “fine” becomes mandatory.
“You’re not happy.
You’re performing stability.”
INTRO — The Empty Room
Alright.
Before we start… I need to say something.
Because over the past few weeks, recording these episodes… I’ve noticed something.
And it’s starting to annoy me a little.
I love doing this podcast.
I genuinely do.
I love turning the mic on.
Pressing record.
Talking.
I love the messages.
The people who reach out.
The occasional “this made me laugh” or “I feel attacked.”
That part?
That part is real.
But let me be honest.
Sometimes…
I’m sitting here talking to a room.
Just me.
A microphone.
Two screens.
And no one else.
And after a while…
your brain starts doing weird things.
You start overthinking.
Drifting.
Turning what should be sarcasm into something that sounds suspiciously like a TED Talk.
Which is ironic.
Because this podcast exists to not be a TED Talk.
The whole point was simple:
Look at human behaviour…
and ask:
“Are we serious right now?”
But when you sit in a room long enough…
you lose that thread.
So let me say this clearly.
No.
Everything is not perfectly fine.
And yes…
I’m aware of it.
Because I love doing this…
but I’m getting tired of talking to an empty room.
Which means something is going to change.
Soon.
I don’t know exactly when.
But we’re getting close to the point where this stops being just audio…
and becomes something you can actually see.
Video.
Which means you won’t just hear me losing patience…
you’ll watch it happen.
God help all of us.
But until then…
we’re still here.
Talking.
Questioning.
And pretending everything is fine.
Which brings us perfectly to today.
Because if there’s one thing modern life is obsessed with…
…it’s happiness.
Or at least…
the appearance of it.
Welcome to “I’m Good”
Alright.
Welcome back.
If you’re new here…
this is not a self-help podcast.
There’s no morning routine.
No affirmations.
And there’s a very high chance you’ll feel personally attacked at some point.
That’s normal.
My name is Noah.
Uninfluenced.
Unpaid.
And apparently the only person online today who didn’t wake up and post a quote about “choosing happiness.”
Because let’s be honest.
You’ve seen it already.
Someone smiling.
Someone glowing.
Someone telling you that happiness is a mindset.
That if you just change your perspective…
everything becomes sunshine and gratitude.
And look…
I get the idea.
Of course people want to feel good.
But somewhere along the way…
something shifted.
Happiness stopped being something you feel.
And became something you perform.
Part 1: The Script
Let’s start with the most dangerous question in modern society.
“How are you?”
It sounds simple.
But it’s not a question anymore.
It’s a script.
And there’s only one acceptable answer.
“Good.”
“Great.”
“Living the dream.”
Even when the “dream” looks like a psychological horror film.
Watch what your brain does before you answer.
There’s a pause.
A tiny internal meeting.
Option one:
Honesty.
“I’m exhausted.”
“I feel lost.”
“I have no idea what I’m doing.”
Your brain shuts it down immediately.
Too risky.
Too real.
So you say:
“I’m good.”
Even when you’re not.
Especially when you’re not.
Because people love asking how you are…
they just don’t want the answer.
Part 2: The Performance
Now let’s talk about the performance.
Social media.
Thirty seconds is enough.
Coffee.
Sunlight.
Soft captions about gratitude.
“Grateful for the small moments.”
Meanwhile, two hours earlier…
they were arguing about toilet paper.
But the photo looks peaceful.
So the illusion survives.
You’re not expected to be happy.
You’re expected to look like you’ve mastered life.
Wake up at five.
Drink lemon water.
Meditate.
Journal.
Pretend you’re balanced.
By 7am you’re exhausted…
from pretending to be someone who has it all together.
And then there’s the favourite phrase:
“Protect your peace.”
Sometimes fair.
Sometimes necessary.
But half the time?
It just means:
Avoid anything uncomfortable.
Someone disagrees?
Block.
Someone challenges you?
Toxic.
Someone questions you?
Negative energy.
And suddenly…
we’ve created a world where the only acceptable emotion…
is calm.
Everything else?
A problem.
Part 3: The Industry
And of course…
where there’s insecurity…
there’s a business.
Welcome to the happiness industry.
Motivational speakers.
Life coaches.
Mindset gurus.
All selling the same idea:
Permanent happiness.
Which is absurd.
Because the most consistent human experience in history…
is that happiness comes and goes.
That’s normal.
But now?
You’re supposed to be thriving.
Always.
And if you’re not?
You need another book.
Another course.
Another routine that starts at 4:30am for no reason.
The funniest part?
The people selling happiness…
look exhausted.
Big smiles.
Dead eyes.
Talking about gratitude…
while running on caffeine and unresolved trauma.
But it works.
Because positivity sells.
Reality doesn’t.
Nobody goes viral saying:
“Some days are fine. Some aren’t. Most are just… normal.”
But that’s the truth.
And truth doesn’t trend.
OUTRO — Just Say It
Here’s the truth.
You’re not supposed to be happy all the time.
Nobody is.
And if someone tells you they are…
they’re lying.
Or selling something.
Or filming content in a rented Airbnb.
Real life is messy.
Some days are good.
Some days aren’t.
Most days are just… normal.
But we’ve decided normal isn’t enough.
Now everything has to be:
Amazing.
Inspiring.
Perfect.
And the more we pretend…
the more fragile we become.
Because if you never allow discomfort…
you won’t survive it when it arrives.
And it will arrive.
It always does.
So maybe the most rebellious thing you can do…
is this:
Admit you’re not fine.
Not dramatically.
Not for attention.
Just honestly.
“Yeah… today’s not great.”
No quote.
No filter.
Just reality.
Now go to the Unfiltered Outsider socials — @unfoutsider.
One question.
No explanation.
Just this:
When was the last time you said “I’m good”… and it wasn’t true?
Send it.
Or don’t.
But stop pretending everything is fine.
It isn’t.
And you know it.
Uninfluenced.
Unpaid.
Unfiltered.
I’m Noah B Jackman.
And this is Unfiltered Outsider.
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Written and hosted by Noah Jackman.
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