A smile creates a happy disposition and a great social effect, making it a very important social skill to master. Smiles are contagious and easy to develop and there are several things that make a smile a happy smile. A happy smile creates a happy atmosphere, making the world around you more cheerful. A smile is also formed most significantly by flexing the facial muscles on both sides of your mouth. Some smiles feature a broad contraction of facial muscles in the corners of your eyes, sometimes called a Y shaped smile, an action called a Dinhenne smile.
The smile has a profound effect on other people’s mood, and studies have shown that smiling causes a measurable reduction in stress and other negative emotions. Happiness is one of our basic needs and the ability to smile can help us fulfil those needs. Smiling is contagious; your smile is infectious! That means when you smile, others around you are more likely to smile also, making the happy effect more widespread. Studies have shown smiling releases endorphins, a powerful natural painkiller, and it also increases blood flow through your body, which helps you deal with stress better.
A healthy body has a healthy mind and a happy body will have a healthy mind too. The muscles of your face are probably the strongest part of your body, so when you smile, it is easy to flex those facial muscles and release tension built up in other areas of your body. A study conducted in Finland reported that smiling is a reliable tool for reducing stress and anxiety, while another study showed that a simple smile was as effective at reducing body fat as exercising for at least 30 minutes a day.
One of our fundamental needs is happiness, and studies in psychology confirm that smiling releases dopamine, a natural mood lifter, as well as serotonin, a natural mood enhancer. Other neurotransmitters are also released when you smile: dopamine and serotonin are both associated with a sense of well-being, and researchers believe that these neurotransmitters are directly involved in generating feelings of happiness and satisfaction. It is very clear that smiling is a key component in happiness. In fact, it is the goal of happiness studies to test whether smiling releases happiness or creates dissatisfaction.
So what kind of person should you be if you want to be a happy person? The answer is simple: Be a happy person! Smiling is not an end unto itself; instead, when you smile, other people are more likely to smile back at you, making your smile contagious. If you’re looking to improve your happiness, all you need to do is make a habit of smiling. If you are guided by Allah (swt) as the best guide and reminder, you must make sure that every time you smile, the smile will be accompanied by a thankful and positive thought.
When you follow this principle of psychology, you’ll find that your life will be more joyful. The more your happiness is enhanced through smiling, the happier you’ll be. The power of psychology is very real and powerful. Using the power of smiling, one can enhance his/her life happiness beyond what is possible with mere thought alone.