When we feel great, a smile comes naturally. It’s not natural to smile when we’re sad or upset. But it turns out that smiling might be the best thing to do when you’re ready to change into a brighter mood.
Scientists have found that smiling on purpose can help people feel better. (1) Smiling on purpose also changes brain chemistry. So it can be a big help to people who are dealing with depression and anxiety.
Our body language can influence our emotions. In one study, researchers discovered that people who stood in a confident way actually felt more confident. (2)
A smile helps you feel happier and being happier helps you keep the smile going in a genuine way. (3) There’s just one trick to making smiling work for you: You need to do it correctly.
A true and genuine smile is called a Duchenne smile. It uses all the muscles in the face, including the “laughter lines” around your eyes. (4) If you are smiling on purpose to help lift your mood, you will notice some changes in your face. (5) You can see how it feels by holding a pencil horizontally between your teeth as you smile.