Have you ever had a bad day when it felt as if you woke up on the wrong side of the bed? Or perhaps you have just been feeling down, and then things suddenly shift to a lighter vibe when you got in the office, and a co-worker greeted you good morning with a beaming smile?
You would think, what was it? Was it his politeness? Was it his upbeat and warm voice, or was it his smile? Well, according to science, smiling can trick your brain into feeling happy and even fuzzy. Moreover, there have been studies that claim smiling can bring about happiness and confidence from within.
If you have clicked on this article, chances are you are curious, or perhaps you are not a big fan of smiling. Maybe you just got new braces, and it still hurts, or possibly, you are disappointed that your dentist sadly did not have quality orthodontic materials. Whatever your reason is, let us prove to you why your smile matters and why you should focus on stretching your facial muscles into a smile once in a while.
How smiling affects other people
Usually, when people meet other people, they test the waters first. People tend to be reserved, and they do not want to be perceived as weird or overwhelming. While that is not a bad concept of socialization, carrying a smile with you wherever you go makes you radiate and emanate positivity. You do not even have to shower people with polite greetings because smiling itself does the magic.
Imagine being in a parking lot with no vacancy for your vehicle and then other drivers racing you to a spot. This situation can easily irritate others, but if you maintain your composure, roll down your window, and manage a thin smile, you can even get someone to let you park first. There might not be any studies to prove that yet, but it is just conventional wisdom. There is even a saying, kill them with kindness.
See, smiling automatically makes you likable, and it also urges people to be at least nicer. It is how human nature operates, and the same goes with people who look like they are brooding and simmering in angst. People generally avoid these kinds of gloom, and should you be in this position. You will only end up more frustrated about not getting a vacant spot to parallel park.
It is hard to stay mad at someone who is smiling at you, whatever the situation is. You will find yourself smiling or laughing in the end.
How smiling affects yourself
Have you ever heard the saying “be kind to yourself?” Well, you have possibly thought how. So, there are many things you can do to achieve this, from taking care of your health, spoiling yourself, taking time to rest, setting boundaries, and even simply smiling. You won’t know how big the difference is when you start smiling on your own.
Before you say, “Why would I be smiling on my own? That would be weird.” It’s not really. See, smiling means you feel good about yourself and have a good day working from home. Possibly you know you are surrounded by people who lift and support you, you have healthy relationships, and most importantly, you know how to value yourself. When all of these things in your life are in place, it will show, starting with a smile.
Take a look at your photos. Possibly pick ones from a time of your life when you were struggling, or you were in a bad place, and then pick a current one. Do you see the difference in your smiles? Even if you were smiling back then, there would be obvious things standing out.
Although there are people who can act for a living, personal smiles cannot be faked. That is why when you are happy. Some people tell you that you are glowing. That is real and scientifically explained, as your oxytocin and endorphin levels are high. Your cheeks will glow, your eyes will sparkle, and your smile will be bright.
If you are not a big smiler, that is okay. People have different ways to socialize, but there is no denying that seeing our favorite people smile makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside. Certainly, that goes the same way for them. So, if there is anything that you can do to start fixing that grin, it is worth a try.
