Smiling has many benefits - it makes you look friendly and helpful, you look more attractive and makes you feel happier and less stressed. And while some people smile more easily, others tend to have more serious expressions and may feel uncomfortable smiling. If you are one of these people and want to learn to smile more, you have come to the right place. This article will provide you with some helpful tips and tricks that will make those pearly teeth stand out in no time!
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Part # 1: Practice Smile More
Step 1. Practice in front of a mirror
If you want to be really good at something you have to train, right? Well, smiling is no different. If you're not someone who smiles a lot, you need to get used to what it means to smile and learn to reproduce that feeling more naturally. Practice smiling when no one else is around, in the bathroom, in bed, in the car. This way, you will feel less self-conscious.
- Every morning, try looking in the mirror and smiling to yourself. Concentrate on making the smile a natural expression, extending it to the eyes. A slight rise in the mouth does not convince anyone.
- Find a smile whose expression you like and try to memorize how your face looks when you do it. In this way, you will be able to repeat that exact smile in everyday situations.
Step 2. Think of a happy event or someone you love
It's no secret that being happy makes you smile, so why not take advantage of it? If you find yourself in a situation where you know you have to smile and want to make it look natural, take a moment to conjure up a happy memory or the face of someone you love.
These positive mental images will automatically boost your good mood and help you smile more naturally. Basically: think happy thoughts
Step 3. Observe the smiling people
Everyone knows at least one person to smile at is easy, the most natural thing in the world. Someone who smiles immediately, at everything and everyone. This person is likely to be well-liked, and is known to be helpful and reliable. Such are the powers of a great smile! Take some time to interact directly with these people, in a sociable environment and observe how and when they smile.
- Make a mental note of how often they smile, as well as the things that make them smile. Do they smile when you say something funny? Or even when you don't say it? Are they smiling to be polite, or just because they seem genuinely happy?
- Now that you have seen how a person with a natural smile behaves during normal conversations, you will feel more confident in adopting similar behaviors and inserting more smiles in your daily relationships.
Step 4. Join a partner
In situations like this, it can be helpful to have a partner who is willing to help you achieve your goal of smiling more often. It could be a romantic partner, your best friend or a workmate who has a good sense of humor, no matter how long you can count on him. All it has to do is give you a little nudge in situations where you forget to smile. That nudge is your reminder that you need to give a bright smile.
- You may also find a small signal, such as a wink or a small hand gesture, so that you can communicate on opposite sides of a crowded room.
- A lot of "curmudgeons" get irritated when someone tells them "Smile!" or "Be cheerful!". However, if you ask a friend to help you smile, it's important that you don't get mad at him when he does his job. Remember: you asked him!
Step 5. Choose a trigger to smile
A bit like the "smile friend" of the previous step, a smile trigger is something that will remind you to smile every time you see or hear it. It could be a certain common word or phrase, like "please" or "thank you", it could be a post-it on your computer screen, or it could be the sound of a phone ringing or someone laughing.
- Once you have chosen your "trigger", you must make a conscious effort to smile every time it clicks. You may feel stupid, but it will help you get into the habit of smiling on command, which helps when you are in public and work situations.
- Another nice idea is to draw a smiley somewhere you see often, like on the back of your hand. Do this every day and remember to smile every time you see it, no matter where you are or who you are with.
Step 6. Smile at a stranger
You've probably heard that smiling is contagious. When you smile at a person, they can't help but smile back at you. Test this theory and make an effort to smile at a complete stranger, at least once a day - whether it's someone on the street, someone at work or school, or someone sitting next to you in traffic. Imagine that this friendly gesture sets off a chain reaction that makes your smile contagious. That's a pretty good feeling, isn't it?
- In fact, some people will think you're weird and some won't smile back, but don't let that stop you! Think of your smile as a good deed or act of kindness that can make the day just a little brighter for someone.
- But if other people respond with a smile (and most will) you will have shared a special moment with those people, a fleeting relationship with other human beings that will leave you with an extra energy on your way.
Step 7. Keep a smile journal
For two to three weeks, take a couple of minutes at the end of each day to tell a brief description of each time you smiled and why. Over time, you may notice a pattern and begin to recognize the interactions and events that give you a truly spontaneous smile on your face.
- You may have seen a cute squirrel hopping along a tree branch. Or you took the time to call an old friend. Once you recognize the things that make you smile, you can make a conscious effort to look for those things in daily life.
- Another good reason to keep a smile diary is that this way you can look back through the diary when you are feeling down and remember individual instances where you really felt happy. This should give you a good mood and help you keep smiling!
Step 8. Work your facial muscles
By training your facial muscles by doing exercises that involve flexing and relaxing you can help your face settle more naturally into a smile, making it feel less odd. An exercise that acts on the muscles involved in smiling is the following:
Take a pencil and put it between your lips. Open your mouth and let the pencil roll between your teeth, all the way down. Bite her to keep her still and hold this position for 30 seconds. Repeat once a day
Step 9. Simulate until it becomes real
Smiling more often will undoubtedly make you feel weird at first - you will probably feel unnatural and fake. But don't give up. Other people won't notice the difference and the more often you do it, the more natural it becomes.
- Smiling is a habit, so if you repeat it often enough, you can smile without thinking, which is ultimately the goal you want to achieve.
- To make smiles that look less fake you should smile with your eyes together with your mouth. Spontaneous smiles are marked by a puckering of the muscles around the eyes, so that's what you should do.
Method 2 of 2: Part # 2: Making Yourself Happy Alone
Step 1. Think of all the good things that life offers you
For every negative thought you have, remember the good things in life. Friends, family, chocolate, skydiving, wine, your dog, Youtube, whatever makes you feel good!
Step 2. Listen to music that makes you feel good
Music has the power to transport people, take them away from their problems, lift their spirits and give inner peace. No matter what music you choose, it could be Beethoven or Britney Spears - as long as you find it comforting and inspiring.
Step 3. Avoid negative people
Just as smiling and laughing is contagious, so is bad mood and aggression. This is why you should make an effort to avoid people who gossip, cause problems for others, or who constantly walk around with a grimace on their face and a dark air. Instead, surround yourself with happy, positive people, and you'll find yourself smiling subconsciously.
Step 4. Find a relaxing hobby
The more relaxed you feel, the better you look at the world and the easier it becomes for you to smile. A relaxing hobby gives you a chance to take some time for yourself and be at peace with the world, without the pressure of interacting with others. Consider something like yoga or sailing. Or just soak an hour or two in a relaxing bath.
Step 5. Do spontaneous things
Life is an adventure and make the most of the opportunities you encounter on your way. Add some excitement to your life by doing something spontaneous sometimes, like walking in the rain, sketching an object or person that caught your eye, or calling your friends for a night on the town. You will have wonderful memories, as each of them contributes to a happy life.
Step 6. Do a good deed every day
Taking time each day to do a good deed will make you feel better about yourself, but it will also help make the world a better place. It doesn't have to be something huge, it could be a small donation to charity, hold someone's elevator door, pay for the coffee of the person standing behind you, all that makes the day that little bit easier and more. nice for someone. Their appreciative smile will give you momentum throughout the day.
Step 7. Find time to laugh
They say laughter is the best medicine, so get your daily dose by watching a funny online video, reading newspaper comics, or hanging out with a witty friend. Laughing releases endorphins that automatically make you feel happier and therefore more inclined to smile!
Step 8. Surround yourself with friends and family
Spending time with loved ones is a great way to boost overall health and happiness. Sure, they can drive you crazy sometimes, but you wouldn't change them for the world. Spend time with the people you love, enjoy their company, and appreciate what makes each of them special. If you can do this, it will never be a problem to find the motivation to smile.
