Cherophobia Is The Fear of Being Happy and It’s Common

For an average middle class, with no legacy, Cherophobia is a state where you exist till death. You are accustomed for fighting in class, in job, stoically handling the constant cold war with your spouse and toil hard for every materialistic value. When you get a promotion or bonus, you have that feeling that something has occurred, which seems too good to be true – so it’s suspicious ! Then you brace yourself for the worst, draw out the image of God from your long-lost spiritual self and probably donate to a Temple, Mosque or Church.

Most middle class can’t get over this feeling of being consigned to a life-long state of cherophobia, and their good fortune takes a sinister turn in their mind.

“Cherophobia”comes from the Greek word “chairo”, which means “I rejoice”. It basically means that they are afraid to participate in anything fun.

It’s not the activities that are scary, it’s the fear that if you let go, and are happy and carefree, then something terrible will happen. What if I watch the sunrise today and get late for office ? What if I watch the thriller movie today on Netflix and get accused of being selfish by my spouse ? What if I read a book on Sunday morning and get labeled as ‘ boring’ by my family ? What if I speak out to my boss and colleagues about some flaws in the business plan and be criticised as being ‘ overcritical’ and ‘ avoidable’ in my office ?

Too many apprehensions in our middle class life and in a paradoxical twist you actually enjoy the state of ‘ Cherophobia’.

Cherophobia probably isn’t about feeling sad all the time, it is simply avoiding events and activities that could bring happiness.

• Anxiety when you’re invited to a social gathering and meet familiar people who are actually happy.
• Passing on opportunities that could lead to positive life changes due to the fear something bad will happen.
• Believing that showing happiness is bad for you or your friends or family.
• Thinking that trying to be happy is a waste of time and effort ad defying destiny.

It is that feeling that draws you to Godmen and Spiritual Gurus and a practical form of Vedantic socialism takes shape in your mind. You start shunning everything that doesn’t conform to your self-made philosophy.