BellaOnline Forums Relationships Relationships Do You Smile?

I just finished a book that was all about body language and the signals we send. It talked a great deal about smiling. It said that research shows that if you smile a lot, it actually makes you happier because the muscles involved with smiling affect the brain's release of hormones. I know I've read about this research in several other books. It actually does affect levels of depression. Which then means you smile more frequently "naturally" - which creates a positive feedback loop.

Are you generally a person that smiles? Or are you generally neutral? Have you ever tried watching a comedy movie that would help you to smile and laugh - and then judge how you felt afterwards compared with before?

Have you tried smiling at people as you went through the day, and judging their reactions? Do they smile back? Or do they maintain whatever facial expression they had before?

i am a big smiler. I even smile when I am mad and sad... it's really bad.

But I do think it affects the way people interact with me. I smile at them and they usually smile back. If they don't you can see a crack in their stone facade

LOL I like the crack imagery!!

Many people have been non-smilers for so long that it's hard for them to start. But it really does help! It's so neat that just smiling even without "feeling it" can start to help you - to get you going in the right direction.

I want to caveat that I'm not saying people should "hide it" when they're sad! When they're sad they should seek help and talk with someone. But smiling can be really helpful in life.

I'm a smiler, maybe that's why I'm generally pretty happy...or is it the other way around?
I unconsciously smile when walking down the street, especially on a nice sunny day, and realize that I'm doing it when passersby smile back or say "hello".

I think it works both ways! If you're happy you smile - and when you smile, it makes you happy within your brain.

I was doing tests recently, and when I think of daffodils I smile almost unconsciously. And then I end up feeling happier! It's pretty cool.

Are there things you can think about that make you smile?

I like smiling at people

LOL I like the crack imagery!! smile

I used to walk around looking very angry and unapproachable...partly because I didn't want to be bothered by others as I was going through a lot of emotional turmoil and the other part was just my insides screaming for help I think, now I am making healthy decisions in my life and changing the way I interact with people. Noticing how my expression where throwing people off, they would expect a "b-tch" and they got a nice girl, which then made them feel weird about who I was. Smiling has really changed how I feel inside and helped others feel like they can approach me...it's changed my life! "I try to smile in my liver now" (Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert)

I smile a lot. I went thru a period in time when I just did not want to smile, I was depressed and lost and felt like smiling was a false facade. I would get angry when cheery people would say "smile!", like they were demanding and trying to force someone to do what they did not feel like doing. I felt like saying, "About what?!!!" I was a mess!!! This was years ago and I have since learned that smiling brings joy and peace of mind. Sometimes when I am out in public and smile politely to an elderly person or a little child, I can see the brightness of joy come into their faces and that in turn gives me joy. I love to smile! I love the affect it has on myself and others.

There is a difference though in smiling from the heart and false smiles and one can spot that a mile away. Smiling should start as a little seed in your heart, gain light as it grows and burst onto your face in genuine joy.