Last update: January 20, 2016
Do happy people smile more or are people who smile happier?
The answer is that both statements are true. When we are happy or we feel happy, we are more in tune with the good and the beautiful we have around and this mood is reflected on our face with a smile.
It is curious to know that the same thing happens in reverse: the more we smile, even though it may be forced at first, the happier we will feel.
“Never forget to smile, because a day without a smile is a lost day”.
-Charlie Chaplin-
Smiling improves our mood
An experiment conducted by Fritz Strack showed that smiling helps us to be more inclined to a good mood.
In this experiment, some funny cartoons were shown to two groups of people. In one group, people read while holding a pencil between their lips, to make them smile, while the other group kept a neutral expression.
The results showed that those who smiled before reading the cartoons found them more amusing; they were, therefore, more likely to be in a good mood.
The explanation behind this phenomenon lies in the fact that, when our brain perceives facial muscles being pulled into a smile, it interprets it as a signal of happiness, regardless of the cause, and it then tunes in to positive moods.
As if that weren't enough, the mind works "by tendencies". When we are sad or angry, in general, we interpret what happens to us in a more negative way and we tend to remember and think about negative events. When, on the other hand, we are happy, we take everything more lightly and identify more memories and positive thoughts.
This means that "Forcing" to smile can be a good way to induce our body to find a more cheerful mood which also feeds smiles.
This is just one of the reasons why smiles are the first step towards happiness, but there is more.
Smiles are contagious
We live in a stressful world in which we continually come into contact with many people, but, in practice, we ignore them: the baker, the bus driver, the doctor, the cashier at the supermarket, etc.
In these everyday situations, being kind and showing a smile can be a change subtle, but, in the long run, very important. In this way, an insignificant meeting turns into a pleasant one.
Mirror neurons push us to imitate the behavior of those in front of us. This is exactly what happens when we are in front of an aggressive person and, automatically, we get on the defensive.
If we move through life with a smile, the most likely thing is to find someone who gives us back the smile and kind gestures, which increases the feeling of well-being and inner peace.
It is no coincidence that one of the first things newborns learn is to smile back from their mother or the people around them.
We are programmed to interpret smiles as a symbol of security and to give them back, thus establishing a bond that says “this is a safe environment, where you don't have to be on the defensive”.
A small gesture, like a smile, can mean the definitive impact on the climate that is established between people.
“If sometimes they don't give you the smile you expected, be generous and offer yours. Nobody needs a smile as much as those who don't know how to smile at others ”.
-Dalai Lama-
Smile is the first step towards laughter
There is nothing more fun than a laughing baby. If you've ever seen one, you'll have noticed that even the most serious adult can't help but smile and even end up laughing out loud when a baby does.
Laughter, like smiling, is a way of communicating as well as being a demonstration of happiness to others that we are in a safe and friendly environment.
Knowing how to laugh at circumstances and at oneself is essential in order not to sink into one's problems and to find a way to surface when we feel that we are sinking.
A laugh at the right moment can put an end to the most tense moments. Laughing breaks down the barriers of unhappiness and brings us closer to happiness.
“Laughter is like a tonic, a relief, a remedy to relieve pain”.
-Charlie Chaplin-
It's not just because we feel good when we laugh, but also because laughter unites. Many good friendships arise from laughter afternoons, and one of the most important things in a relationship is knowing how to laugh together. If you think about it, one of the first games you play as a child is tickling, with the intent of making you laugh.
Laughing with someone establishes a bond, and the bonds, the good relationships in which we feel comfortable, are the most indispensable element to be happy.
Whenever you can, then, paint a smile on your face; this will not only make yourself happier, but it will also convey joy to others and, who knows, maybe you will start a new friendship.
