"Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy." ~Thich Nhat Hanh

Most people probably know that a genuine smile can make you more attractive, approachable, and interesting. Then again, maybe not. Many people navigate the world unsmiling. If you are depressed or not used to smiling a lot, it might even feel disingenuous when you try to smile. I know I've felt un-certain exactly how to smile so I can relate better with people. A genuine smile can make you more attractive and approachable. A beautiful smile lights up the world, and benefits every area of our lives. We’ll start with the benefits of smiling. Then we'll move on to how we can improve the quality of our smiles.

The benefits of Smiling

Besides making you more attractive(1), smiling releases dopamine(2) and seratonin in your brain, which makes you happier(3). According to a recent study(4) by french and german scientists, a genuine smile makes you appear more trustworthy, and improves your earning potential. Smiling makes you appear more intelligent(5). At the same time it lowers your heart rate, boosts your immune system and increases your lifespan(6). Science confirms that smiles are contagious(7), which means that the more you smile, the more people around you will also feel better.

But what makes a genuine smile?

_{(photo credit: William Stitt on Unsplash)}

You might be suprised to know that the “genuine smile” has a name. It’s called the Duchene Smile and “involves contraction of both the zygomatic major muscle (which raises the corners of the mouth) and the orbicularis oculi muscle (which raises the cheeks and forms crow's feet around the eyes)(8). It’s been confirmed, in a 2001 study(9) that the Duchenne smile amplifies the positive effect of a smile, over a smile that does not raise the cheeks to form crows feet.

Researchers Dacher Keltner and LeeAnne Harker from the University of California, Berkeley analyzed the smiles in 141 photos from the 1960 Mills College yearbook. They divided the photos by Duchenne smiles, Say Cheese smiles, and the non-smilers.

The researchers followed up with these women at age 27, 43, and 52 and asked them questions about their life satisfaction and status of their marriage. They found that the Duchenne smile predicted positive outcomes in marriage and well-being up to 30 years later.
Psychology Today - Adoree Durayappah-Harrison MAPP

_{(photo credit: Larm Rmah)}

So remember! More important than a huge toothy smile, is the raising of your cheeks and the squinching of your eyes.

Smile with your eyes!

If you are having a hard time producing a genuine smile, the best thing to do is practice for a few minutes a day in front of a mirror, or take selfies. Practice, practice, practice. In all likely hood, you’ll find out that just practicing smiling makes you feel happier. I've found that it’s still possible to give a genuine smile, even when I have a bad day and feel anxious. That smile elevates my mood, and improves the quality of life for people around me. Just ask someone who has a great smile, and smiles all of the time. They don’t always do it just when they feel great. A great smile adds value throughout our whole life. It’s one of the foundations of a series i'll be doing in #socialskills.

So next time you walk down the street, smile(with your eyes) at the people you pass by. Leave a comment if you notice a difference.

_{(photo credit: Loren Joseph)}

Further Reading and References

sheknows.com - The science of smiling.
psychologytoday.com - There’s magic in your smile

1. tandofonline.com - interrelatedness between attractiveness and emotional expression
2. steemit.com - Related Steemit Article on Dopamine
3. scienceblogs.com- smile you’ll feel better
4. sciencedirect.com - honest signaling in trust interactions
5. washingtonpost.com - Want people to think you’re smarter- smile more
6. rivertea.com - smiling helps you live longer
7. sciencedaily.com - why smiles and frowns are contagious
8. en.wikipedia.org -Duchenne smile
9. doi.org - All smiles are positive, but some smiles are more positive than others