World Smile Day
‘Smile though your heart is aching, smile even though its breaking….’
While this classic tune expresses a heartfelt sentiment, I struggle with the idea that we should force ourselves to smile when we don’t feel like it. Even when the workman on the street shouts out ‘go on love, give us a smile. It can’t be that bad.’ What if I don’t feel like smiling? What if I’ve had a tough day at work? What if I didn’t sleep well last night and don’t have the energy to be Miss Sunshine? Sometimes I am content but simply have a blank face, often referred to as ‘resting bitch face’. Some of us are naturally prone to a frown, which can project a sense of contempt or discomfort, or appear that we are experiencing a rancid smell. On World Smile Day, I thought it worthwhile to explore what it means to smile, and the science behind why and how we do it.
When we smile, it releases the best kind of hormones, the feel-good hormones like endorphins, dopamine and serotonin. These are neurotransmitters that promote feelings of happiness and contribute to positive mental health. Smiling can also help reduce physical pain and combat stress, acting as a natural form of relief. These hormones are the magic dust of life. As a reflexologist, one of my greatest rewards is witnessing clients ride away on a wave of joy.
Sharing a smile can be a powerful tool, creating a ripple effect of happiness. A stranger receiving your smile may experience an improvement in mood, showcasing the contagious nature of smiles. A drive-by grin stimulates the mirror neuron system, promoting the recipient to engage their own facial muscles and smile back. There’s something magical about unexpected positive interactions, brightening our world one smile at a time. Research shows that the orbitofrontal cortex illuminates when someone smiles, reinforming the idea that they are a form of social reward; so let’s light up the world one orbitofrontal cortex at a time.
However, not all smiles are created equal. There are good smiles and there are some questionable ones. The unnerving ‘Shining ‘smile (way too eager). The awkward smile that you give when you kind of know them enough to greet but not enough to stop and chat. This smile can also be activated when you hold open the door. The sarcastic smile given to someone who has been a little bit of a knob, but harmless (just keep walking buddy). The flirtatious smile like the one portrayed by the Mona Lisa. And let’s not forget the forced smile perfected by those in the hospitality industry. I never would have lasted in hospitality. Personally, I struggle to fake a smile without appearing sarcastic as my emotions are typically on full display. What you see within the creases of my mug is what you get. My nana was the same - she once got in trouble at school for giving her teacher ‘a look’. Yet, while I wear my emotions on my face, I can still play a mean game of poker - must be the drama degree.
Returning to the notion of the forced smile, and our friend Nat King Cole, I believe it’s vital to embrace all our emotions, rather than simply putting on a brave face. Why force a smile when you feel awful? Cry when you feel like you are overcome with sadness or stress. It is essential for our mental health to allow ourselves to process feelings, including the ones that make us feel uncomfortable. We must allow our bodies to work through a stress cycle and one of the key release processes is crying so let the tears flow rather than plastering on a big cheesy grin. Every emotion is allowed on the bus of your life! Just don’t let them take the wheel. Joy and happiness, however, and always VERY welcome to sit up front.
The smile is a powerful tool that can shift our prospective. Life can be challenging, and we may lose our smiles for a time. Take a moment to notice the little things in life, and these just might help you get back your smile. As Katy Perry sings:
I'm so thankful
Scratch that, baby, I'm grateful
Now you see me shine from a mile
Finally got back that smile (smile).
