Never underestimate the power of a smile. If you’re a thrill seeking, risk taking aficionado, then a smile is one of the most important tools you have at your disposal.
Why? Because a smile, quite literally, has the power to change the world. If you think I’m exaggerating, try doing it for a day— a whole day—and see how you feel.
Smiles are infectious, they’re overpowering, and they’re good for you. Things don’t always work out in your favor, but a smile can change your whole demeanor when things go wrong.
You can’t make someone happy when they’re down, but a smile goes a long way towards helping.
***
A year ago, I was angry. I wasn’t happy with where I was, I wasn’t happy with what I was doing, and I wasn’t happy with the people around me. Ask anyone who knew me; I was unpleasant.
I was desperately unhappy. I had to change something, but I was overwhelmed and had no idea where to start. Then, I read a newspaper article about the effect of smiling on the chemistry of your brain.
Some research suggests that when you mimic a smile, even if you’re not happy, it causes your brain to release endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin—the chemicals that make you happy. Cocaine works, too, but smiling is cheaper and the long-term effects are usually more positive.
Now, I’m not usually one to embrace that “happy, woo-woo, quasi-medicine” stuff. I’m a man, damn it. I don’t even take Tylenol when I hurt myself. The more and more I thought about it, though, the more sense it made to just try it. What harm could it do?
So, I started a 30-day trial. For one month, I’d attempt to change my demeanor just by smiling more. The frustration would come, and I’d just grin and bear it. I didn’t expect much. But it worked. Not only did it work, it changed my life, and I don’t mean in that TV infomercial weight-loss supplement kind of way. It actually made me happier. I started making serious headway in my life. I can remember exactly when things started to change; it was October 2009. I’d started my trial right after turning 25 and asking myself, “What the hell am I doing with my life?”
I started changing how I did my work and got a little bit happier. I started making big, new plans, and got a little bit more happy. I started changing the people I was hanging around with and got happier still.
Let’s get one thing straight, though. Smiling isn’t really what made me happy; changing my life is. Embracing more risks is what made me happy, but smiling got the ball rolling. Smiling when everything sucked is what allowed me to see that there’s always a bright side, even if it’s just in my head. It helped me past the apathy of my own situation so that I could actually do something about it.
I know that so many people are reading this right now and saying, “This a load of horse****.” Don’t lie, I know you are.
Try it. What could you possibly lose? This is one of very few opportunities in life that have an unlimited upside and no downside. It doesn’t take anything special to get started, and it’s free. No credit cards, no late night phone calls, no “3 easy payment” plans.
If you’re unhappy, start smiling. Force it. If you know someone who’s unhappy, smile at them. Doesn’t matter if you have a reason or not; you don’t need one. The power of a smile is a force to be reckoned with. If you want to change the world, start by smiling.
Where ever you are today, whatever it is you’re doing, however you might feel, I hope you take a second to try on a smile. It doesn’t have to be a big, cheesy grin—just turn the corners of your mouth up.
You won’t regret it.
~~~~~
Quick Reminder: My new digital guide, Instant Adventure: Valor Not Included, aimed at helping you take the biggest adventure of your life launches tomorrow morning. Make sure you stop by to pick up a copy.
Image by: Alberto+Cerriteño
I like that idea. It’s free, contagious, and biologically proven to improve your mood.
I guess most people are afraid they’re going to look like an idiot smiling everywhere. But honestly… look at the alternative! Would you rather have everybody look like the walking dead?
I’m going to try your “30 day trial” Tyler.
That’s what I thought. “Won’t I look stupid if I’m *always* smiling?”
Turns out, no one actually thinks that.
[...] Smile. (Advanced Riskology) [...]
There are more way to use your physiology to change your psychology.
Do exercise, change your posture, go for a walk/jog/run, laugh, have sex, meditate.
Be aware of your body/mind system and how both sides interact with each other.
Get yourself going in the right direction and momentum will carry you forward.
I’ve been trying really hard to improve my posture lately and it is certainly affecting my mood for the better.. It’s hard; I’m so used to slouching over all the time.
I like horse shit.
Haha.
All that woo-woo-quasi stuff. I’m into that. I think a lot of “personal development” bloggers are a little careful not to come off like that but there’s a whole market for that shit that people buy. Deepak Chopra. Enough said.
Sorry for the tangent.
The dopamine-endorphin thing is why I ALSO thing everyone should have an orgasm a day. haha. And that will change the world. Because some people are just too uptight.
But yes. Smiling. Daily hugs. ALL of that helps.
Now there’s a movement that’d be easy to get behind!
One of the nicest things someone said to me once was that she enjoyed seeing me every day because I always smiled and made her a little happier, regardless of the mood she was in. It’s not just going to make you feel better, it might help somebody else get through their day, too!
Absolutely. The positive effects go far beyond just your own mood.
This is exactly what I needed today. I have done this same type of experiment in the past but it was more with positive talk. At the time I would replace negative thoughts with positive and usually the very next thought was “this is so ridiculous and cheesy”. Anyway…it worked. For the past month I’ve been miserable and super grump. Smiling always helps…thanks for the reminder
I totally needed to read this – I’ve been feeling really unhappy lately, how you described yourself, and need something to bring me out of it! I’m going to try the 30 day trial
Thanks for posting this Tyler! (I’m smiling right now ;P)
) ) ) ) Smile!) ) ) ) Good thought for today. I definitely knew this but also need to DO this!
I was smiling the whole time I read this post. What a difference it makes! Thanks Tyler, I love those simple but profound solutions to life’s ups and downs.
Excellent article, excellent advice, excellent website! thumbs up i’ll be checking in again! would love to do an interview via email for my website if you’re up for it – cheers!
-Ashley
Feel free to get in touch, Ashley:
http://tylertervooren.com/advancedriskology/contact
I like smiling and saying hello to people…but, it puts a frown on my face when they still look at you with that same old ugly face, wondering why in the heck you are smiling and saying hello.
You can’t control how other people react to you, only how you do to others. Being “rejected” is tough, but it’s just a part of the process, right?
…and to all those people who just look at you like you are nuts, piss off.
S.o
M.uch
I.mprovement . . .
L.ittle
E.ffort
[...] later, I can look back and smile at my younger self. Little did she know: she already belonged in L’Arche. In fact, four [...]
I really didn’t think I’d be into this post, but it’s very intriguing. I’ve read that your brain will catch up with what your body is doing eventually. I have no idea where I may have read this, but I was thinking within half an hour for smiling. It makes sense. The first 5 minutes are incredibly difficult trying to smile when you’re in a crappy mood, then all of a sudden it feels lighter, easier.
I’ve never heard of anyone doing an experiment for 30 days on it, or saying it was life changing. Given me something to think about!
A smile is a curve that sets the whole word straight. I just love to smile!
Love this, Tyler! I’ve been practicing this idea for a while now. It’s actually amazing how many times people smile back when you are smile at them, authentically. Not only can this change your own life, but sometimes the lives of others who are on the receiving end of your smile.
I like to do this when I go for bike rides through the city – especially in the park. There’s this hippie dude that rides around on a bike with huge handlebars and blows bubbles as he goes along. I’m not quite on that level yet, but I do like to share smiles as I ride. It reminds me how happy I am to be alive. If people smile back (or even if they don’t), I feel like I’ve contributed one small piece toward making the world a better place to live.
Awesome topic for Monday!
Any resources you can share about the whole dopamine/endorphines/seratonin release on smiling thing? I can’t seem to find much – my google-fu must be weak.
On the whole, I enjoyed the article though. I was certainly one of those people who thought it was horse-shit and I think I still am, but I’m willing to give it a go.
Hey Carwin,
I worded that sentence poorly (now fixed). There isn’t a confirmed link between smiling and the release of chemicals in the brain, only research that suggests it. Evidence seems to point that direction, but it’s not certain yet.
However, there is much research that confirms that *recieving* a smile from someone you care about does, in fact, release those happy chemicals.
Hmm, honestly I think daily sex is the best drug in the world – ie. Oxytocin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxytocin)
but smiling is swell too
Thanks, Tyler. Great article, great stuff! I’m gonna remember it and use it more…
Tyler,
Good post! Am big believer in doing small things to change a mood from negative to positive. And it is definitely easier to make bigger plans in life when you feel better.
I saw this on youtube recently where the author says being happy is good for a person’s own self interest. But he also argues we have a moral obligation to be happy because of the impact on those around us. Interesting idea . . . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQqJvfh9irs
Keep up the good work!
Kurt
Have you published a book yet?? I’d rather have book than emails.
No book yet, Stephanie. But, it’s on *the list.*
Well, awesome! That’s a good list. Can’t wait for the book! I guess something is better than nothing, that’s what I always say….(unless it pertains to really bad advertisements, then no advertisement is better.)
Thanks for the “smile” newsletter Tyler— SO true. Another form of “fake it till you make it” in some ways, except that the smile is contagious to others and will actually make you feel better. So true, and the positive post is appreciated, thanks again!
I’m trying it right now and it’s working!
smiling a big cheesy grin leads me to laughter.
So simple yet SO true.
About two years ago I taught myself to smile in the midst of trouble. I was sick and tired of freaking out, and after watching videos showing that even forcing your smile offered tremendous benefits…it made me smile more often !
HEll — I even joined a laughter yoga club about 6 months ago ! It was the most amazing experience, although I felt like a complete idiot doing this wacky exercises…but I have dramatically increased my ability to smile and laugh. And more often than not, I just crack up. For no good reason. It IS the best medicine.
Thanx for reminding me Tyler !
It is amazing. “Smiling is infectious, you catch it like the flu…” Thanks!
I’m grinning goofily at the computer screen like a total idiot. Thanks.
It’s said that it takes around 43 muscles to frown but only 17 muscles to smile… so we should just smile because it’s easier. LOL… but that suits me just fine!
However, I always walk down the street in town with a pleasant smile… one minor reason being that a couple of people here have really screwed with my life, and I’ll be damned if they will ever see me, to their satisfaction, still looking pissed-off!
Well done
I love this Tyler….simple but oh sooooo effective!
I read a paper on smiling/mood. (Can’t remember where I read it.) Also when you smile at other people their mood is also affected. Most will return the smile. Happy you reminded of it and will make a greater effort to apply it. Thanks!
Thanks Tyler! I love smiling at people and seeing their responses. Often there is a look of “What?” on their faces and they look around them then back to me. I just keep eye contact and smile even wider, seeing their face light up and a big smile force its way out of them. By the time they pass me, they are smiling at the next person they see. It really is contagious!
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Hi Tyler. I had a strange thing happen in Chile late last year. Over the course of a weekend, I lost the ability to smile or move one side of my face. I thought I was having a stroke. It turns out it was a Bells Palsy attack. Something I had previously never even heard of prior to having one in the middle of Spanish speaking country. I had to return home early after 9 months on the road, as I wasn’t able to communicate. But the most horrifying thing of the whole incident, was loosing the ability to smile. Show happiness, satisfaction, pleasure. Show yourself friendly to the locals, when you don’t understand a bloody word their saying. Your smile is almost like a one word language, saying. “I’m ok, your ok.” Bad things rarely seam to happen when everyone is smiling. Loosing my smile that way made realise just how important it is to me, how I much I use it to subtlety communicate things about me in my everyday life. I’ve since made a concious decision to use it everyday, its precious. Thanks for the well written reminder
stacey
Thanks for this wonderful article Tyler. I have been a very happy and smiley person my whole life. What I find is if you have a smile on your face people will look you in the eye as they pass by and most times they will smile back or say “hi”. It’s a great way to live!
That’s so true man. I can remember just last week I was in a coffee shop having a shitty day when a cute little blond walked by me and gave me a coy smile. It was almost a bit weird but it instantly reminded me that it was my choice to feel like crap in that exact moment and that if I just took a breath and examined my current situation I’d realize that I’m pretty blessed.
I have done the same experiment, forcing smiles and laughs on a day I was feeling down. It works. Try adding laughter, it puts the whole smile thing on overdrive! P.S. I like the “be daring, take some risks to really live” theme of your blog. As a fitness trainer and weight loss coach, I help people get over fears of exercise, commitment, failure, and success to change their lives forever. It amazes me how many people are afraid to take the risk of improving themselves.