In this BIT: Have you ever wondering if smiling makes you happier? Explore all there is to smiling and happiness, the benefits of smiling, and how to smile more.
Have you ever been having a bad day, and heard someone tell you to smile? Intuitively it makes no sense to smile when you are not happy. Although you may feel annoyed, there is some truth in the fact that smiling will actually make us feel better when we are not feeling happy. Let’s break it down.
Disclaimer: if you are suffering from deep sadness, depression and feelings of anxiety please seek help and talk to your doctor immediately.
In the brain, smiling is associated with happiness. When we physically change our face to smile, we can trick our brains into believing that we feel happy, creating the release of dopamine and serotonin. These happiness chemicals can genuinely make us feel happier, even if the smile is artificial, meaning not coming from a true feeling of happiness. In addition, while we smile our brain releases neuropeptides, these are tiny chemicals that help with feeling less stressed and feeling better.
More-so, smiling makes us think more positively, even if we are in a bad mood. When we smile, genuine or not, we send signals to our brain telling it that we are feeling happy and that life is good. This message then spreads, telling our whole body that we feel good.
Benefits of smiling go beyond ourselves! Our smiles can create a ripple effect, and affect those around us. When we see someone smile, the reward center in our brain reacts and makes us feel a little bit better. In fact one study found that when we see someone smile we simply can’t help but smile back, creating a circle of small bits of happiness.
In addition, did you know that smiling can strengthen our immune system? Check out all of the physical benefits from smiling:
– Lowering of blood pressure
– Reduction of pain
– Release of natural painkillers
– Relaxing the body
– Strengthening of the immune system
Here are a few ways to smile more everyday:
– Just smile – it triggers the release of endorphins actually making you happier!
– Choose something to be your smile cue. For example, when you see a person wearing a red shirt, or maybe when you see a person walking a dog. Try to smile everytime you see this cue.
– When you do start to smile because of your cue, try to think of something that really does make you happy. Maybe a funny joke that never fails to make you laugh, your favourite food or a happy memory.
We hope that this inspires you to try to smile some more, and find more happiness in your day.
For more happiness check out our Mood Boost page.
Featuring quick videos created for teens by teens.
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