Hidden and Masked Feelings
Recognise that people sometimes hide or mask their true feelings — smiling when they're actually sad, or saying 'I'm fine' when they're not — and understand why someone might do this
What a learner can do afterwards
- Give an example of a time someone might hide their feelings and explain why
- Identify mismatches between someone's words and their body language
- Explain that hiding feelings is common but that it's usually better to share with someone trusted
The lesson
Have you ever smiled even though you felt sad inside? Sometimes people show one feeling on the outside while feeling something different on the inside. This is called hiding or masking a feeling.
People hide feelings for different reasons. They might not want others to worry, feel embarrassed about crying, or think the feeling will just go away on its own. Hiding a feeling does not make it disappear.
Zara falls off her bike in front of her friends. She jumps up and says, 'I'm okay!' with a big grin. But her hands are shaking and her eyes look wet. Her words say one thing. Her body says another.
Watch for clues that do not match, like a smile with watery eyes, or a cheerful voice that sounds rushed. If you notice a mismatch, you might gently ask, 'Are you really okay?' And if you are the one hiding a feeling, it usually helps to tell someone you trust.
A smile can hide a feeling, so watch for words and body language that don't match, and share your own feelings with someone you trust.
Watch it
Where it sits
This opens up
Where this leads
Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.
8 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.