Life is full of highs and lows, and sometimes, those good ol’ peaks and valleys occur back-to-back. You know the vibes: Remember that time you felt immaculate after getting your hair done only to exit the salon and walk into a torrential downpour? Or the morning you finally got your latte at Starbucks only to trip and spill it all over the sidewalk? In the “I’m So Happy” TikTok trend, creators are sharing those frustrating, yet humbling moments when their wins are immediately followed by the universe smacking them in the face — and I’m very here for it.
The trend began when TikToker @hihiuxhd posted a video clip of Mari Ohara, a character from the Anime series “Love Live!” In the video, Mari enthusiastically says, “I’m so happy!” immediately followed by, “I’m so sad!” Between the quippy soundbite, nostalgic background music, and the irony of Mari’s voice maintaining the same high-pitched excitement during both statements, the clip became an instant trending sound. Now, TikTokers are using the “I’m so happy…I’m so sad!” audio to share moments when they, too, were happy — followed by a moment of complete disappointment.
While the trend may sound like a downer at first, we all know TikTok is the perfect place to find humor in everyday human experiences. So, naturally, creators’ versions of the “I’m So Happy” trend are amusing, clever, and far too relatable. In one example, a TikToker at Barnes and Noble spends her paycheck on new books before exiting the store and suddenly realizing how much she actually spent. TikToker @nateehoney jumps for joy when he realizes it’s time for sweater weather only to remember it’s low-key freezing outside, which is not nearly as fun. Creator @zahra graduates college and realizes she never has to do school again, only to remember that now, she has to work a job for all of eternity.
In every example, the “happy” moment is paired with the “I’m so happy!” sound, and the letdown is paired with “I’m so sad!” The goal of the trend is to show two opposing situations or thoughts that happen back-to-back. And the best part is, there’s no talking, fancy recording, or complex editing required — simply add text overlay and record a selfie-style video of you reacting to each opposing thing. If you need some inspiration, check out this one from TikToker @juliaaraleigh or this fun one from @aubsthewayup, who says: “sleeping on my back because megan fox said i won’t get wrinkles” followed by “my sleep paralysis demon visiting every time I sleep like that.”
If there’s anything I’ve learned from covering viral moments on TikTok, it’s that sometimes, the most entertaining trends are the most simple, straightforward, and relatable. The “I’m So Happy” TikTok trend is a perfect example of that; so simple, in fact, that over 280 million people are participating in the trend, from medical doctors about to embark on residency to Khaleesi the cat, whose owner just bought her a less-than-ideal Halloween costume (again).
Whether you recently quit your cushy job at Google and instantly regretted it or you just crawled into your lofted bed and now you suddenly have to pee, the “I’m So Happy” trend is here to help you capture your funny, awkward, irritating, and humbling moments. Give the trend a try, and remember, happiness is fleeting (so you might as well make a TikTok while it lasts).