10 Hidden Powers of Smiling
Smiling when you’re happy comes pretty easily to most. But smiling is much more powerful than just an emotional reaction to being happy. There are also all sorts of advantages to smiling that actually help people to judge not only how attractive you are but if they can trust you and if they can accept you socially.
Smiles also depend on which country you’re from, cultural and gender difference. It’s known that women generally smile more than men and that it’s not necessarily due to them being happier! Russian’s generally rank last in the smiling charts and Americans top, us Brits are somewhere in the middle of that.
1. Get others to trust you
Smiling really does help people to trust you, it shows that you are friendly and approachable and have nothing to hide. It’s thought to give your smile real value and authenticity you should show your teeth whilst smiling.
2. Smile for leniency
This art we think gets perfected during childhood and it can work towards your advantage during adulthood too! Next time you make a mistake smile.
But this time don’t show your teeth else you might look too happy!
3.Fix a social faux pas
Embarrassing social situations can be the worst. But with a little know-how, you could easily elicit a feeling from other people to show a little empathy.
An embarrassed smiles we look down and sometimes we emit a silly little laugh.
4. Stop you from feeling guilty
Surprising and probably not something you may have thought of before. But sometimes social pressures force you into smiling and women, in particular, seem to feel this pressure.
When you hear someone good new the polite thing (especially us Brits) seem to do is feel the need to smile for someone else’s success.
If someone told you some good news and you didn’t smile you would likely regret it afterwards and this would make you feel bad. So as the saying goes ‘nod and smile’.
5. Laws of Attraction
Opposites really do attract when it comes to the rules of attractiveness. If a woman smiles and makes eye contact with a man then he will approach her and it’s deemed an attractive quality.
However, if a man smiles too much at a woman then it’s thought his masculinity is brought into question and he seems less attractive.
6. Hide what you really think
It’s never great to fake a smile but sometimes it is necessary. People have a radar for fake smiling so knowing what makes a real smile to a fake is important. Americans are judged for having on occasion a fake looking smile, but as they smile the most we’ll let them off!
But what makes a smile look real or fake? Apparently, it’s 2 things: the speed of which you smile and what your eyes do. A real smile tends to come on more slowly starting at the corners of the mouth, a fake smile starts quick and fades quick. Also, smiles that don’t involve the eyes are judged as fake smiles.
7. Smile to make money
A smile can have real value in the world of work at all levels. To see this you only have to look at yourself and your own actions every day. Did you tip the smiling waitress? Give to happy charity collector? It’s an age-old system that has always worked to give you what you want and in the world of work, that means money.
Know the value of your smile.
8. Smiles are contagious
One of the simple social pleasures of life, which goes almost unnoticed because it’s automatic, is when you smile at someone and they smile back. It’s contagious and it makes us and them feel good.
So share a smile and imagine how far it could travel.
9. Smile to shake off stress
Smiling makes us feel good even when we don’t, so force a small smile when you’re feeling stressed and try to gain perspective on your situation. When smiling it’s believed a chemical reaction takes place and feel good hormones get released and this could help to reduce your stress level.
Forcing an insincere smile can be a little draining but finding a little laugh in there could be the turning point. So find something funny on youtube or watch a feel good movie and make a conscious effort to smile and laugh.
10. Live Longer
Last of all and probably the most important, smile to live a longer, healthier and happier life.
How happy are you with your smile? Click here to take our Smile Check.