Did you know that the smile is considered the most positive emotional symbol all over the world? Smiles are universal, anyone is naturally able to understand their meaning. A simple smile allows us to thank, apologize or convey our happiness; it is a very valuable tool. What better reason to learn to smile at your best and in a spontaneous and genuine way! With the right practice and concentration, you will be able to smile spontaneously, receiving the same gift in return anywhere in the world.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Practice
Step 1. Find out what makes a spontaneous smile
Most people have no difficulty distinguishing a forced smile from a natural one, sometimes called a "Duchenne" smile by the homonymous scholar who first described it. The reason is that different muscles and parts of the brain are involved. But what exactly happens? What makes a smile "real"?
- When we smile spontaneously, there is a voluntary and involuntary contraction of two muscles: the zygomaticus major and the orbicularis of the eye, which respectively raise the corners of the mouth and the area around the eyes and cheeks.
- A forced smile, on the other hand, involves only the muscles of the mouth because it is not possible to voluntarily contract the orbicular of the eye. This is why some people claim that a spontaneous smile lights up the whole face, especially the eyes.
- A spontaneous smile also engages different parts of the brain. While a forced smile uses the motor cortex, the real one involves the limbic system, which is the place of origin of emotions.
Step 2. Practice smiling
As with the rest of the body, the function of the facial muscles also improves with exercise. It is possible to strengthen and tone them through use, improving the ability to smile. Smiles and facial gymnastics can also help you look younger and healthier.
- Start with a simple exercise. Smile while stretching the corners of your mouth to the side, then hold the position for ten seconds. Now, part your lips slightly and stay still for another ten seconds. Repeat, widening the smile if you wish.
- Do this exercise to smooth the fine lines around your mouth: squeeze your lips and suck in your cheeks, then try to smile. Stay in this position until your muscles feel fatigued. Repeat the exercise once a day.
- One last exercise: smile as wide as you can with your lips together, then try to move your nose back and forth. This way you will be able to train your cheek muscles. Hold the position for ten seconds, then repeat.
Step 3. Learn to smile with your eyes
As mentioned, a spontaneous smile does not only involve the lips; it also affects the upper part of the face, causing small folds to appear around the eyes. Arguably, this is the main distinction between a fake smile (involving only the mouth) and a broad, spontaneous one. A genuine smile should brighten the entire face.
- Remember to lift your cheek muscles when you smile. The eyebrows should also be involved and slightly raised.
- Practice in front of the mirror. For further confirmation, cover your mouth and nose with your hand leaving only your eyes and eyebrows visible. You should still be able to understand that you are smiling.
- If you want to prevent wrinkles from forming around your eyes, consider eliminating the other possible causes rather than trying to keep a stiff expression. Smoking, sleep deprivation, and exposure to harmful sunlight are far more to blame than smiles. Develop new, healthier habits instead of sacrificing good humor.
Step 4. Smile while looking in the mirror
The mirror is an excellent ally, it will help you to notice how it looks and what sensations your natural smile transmits; in addition, it will give you the opportunity to learn how to control it and use it to your advantage.
- Nowadays, we have a habit of saying "cheese" in front of the lens. In fact, it's not a useful technique for spontaneously smiling. Words ending with the letter "a", such as home or yoga, are much better because they prompt you to open your mouth and lift your cheekbones slightly, giving you a more natural expression. Practice!
- Find the right angle. Probably, your face and smile look better from some angles than others. Practice in front of the mirror to find out what your best side is. Once you've found the best angle, use it in real interactions.
- Photomodels often use the following trick: while smiling, they bring the tongue against the palate, just behind the incisors. This movement should cause your jaw to open slightly, improving its profile.
Part 2 of 3: Being Ready to Smile
Step 1. Try to be in a good mood
People smile because they feel happy, but the same smiles can increase the level of happiness. The reason is that our emotions are not only affected by the brain, but also by the body. Therefore using the facial muscles not only consolidates, but increases our state of happiness.
- When you smile you should naturally be encouraged to smile even more. The first to propose this theory was Charles Darwin (best known for his ideas on natural selection and the evolution of the species).
- Try to smile even when you don't have a real reason to smile. Even a "fake" smile allows you to move those muscles that can induce good mood.
Step 2. Hang out with happy people
In addition to using your facial muscles, there are other things that can help you smile more frequently - one of them is being with smiling people. Even if the reasons are not yet fully understood, smiling is a "contagious" act: human beings are naturally inclined to smile when they see someone doing the same.
- To maximize this positive reaction, try to spend your time with cheerful and carefree friends and family. Do you have a very funny aunt? Go visit her and let yourself be infected by her good mood.
- The same goes for strangers. Positive effects on mood also occur when someone we don't know and with whom we have no connection is smiling. Try going to a happy environment, such as a park, zoo, movie theater, or any place where you know you can find happy people.
Step 3. Flood your mind with happy thoughts
Another way to improve your mood and the predisposition to smile is to think about a moment in your life when you felt particularly happy or about a loved one. Choose a person or situation that can trigger passionate and happy emotions. This could be a memory from your childhood, a parent, a grandparent, or your partner.
- Try to visualize the person or event in your mind. If you are talking to someone, pretend that they are the subject of your happy thoughts.
- This technique also works if you are talking on the phone or writing an email. Somehow, we are able to identify if a person is smiling simply by listening to their voice, even without seeing their face. The same can also happen when we read a message.
Step 4. Feel comfortable when you smile
Some people have a hard time smiling for reasons of shyness, embarrassment, or other blocking emotions. Men, for example, smile less than women because they probably feel that they are less socially accepted. Don't let these false beliefs limit your ability to smile.
- Overcoming the fear of smiling requires only a small change in mindset. It will definitely take some training, so start working on it right away.
- If you feel uncomfortable for another reason, such as the appearance of your teeth, you can still do something to improve your smile and feel more confident.
Part 3 of 3: Perfecting the Smile
Step 1. Find your best expression
By looking in the mirror, you should learn to understand what is the best shape of your smile. Experiment with different widths, points of view and try to wear some accessories. You can also try playing with light sources.
- Adapt the smile to the shape of your face. If you have an elongated face, try to contain the width of your smile, opening your mouth more vertically than horizontally. On the other hand, if you have a square face, try to smile more broadly.
- Do you have a very fleshy upper lip? Try to show part of your teeth when you smile. If it is very thin, make sure that the lower part of the upper teeth touch the lower lip.
- Moistening your teeth with a little water will help make them shine in the photograph.
- Use colors wisely to make your smile stand out better. A red or pink lipstick can help make your teeth appear brighter, while a coral or orange one may risk making them look yellowish.
Step 2. Brush and floss regularly
A correct daily oral hygiene helps you to have a perfect smile and to remove the feeling of embarrassment. Brush your teeth regularly and use an antibacterial mouthwash. Go to the dentist at least once a year to keep your mouth perfectly healthy.
- Don't forget about the gums. Their health is just as important, so floss at least once a day. It is an indispensable gesture for having a beautiful and healthy smile.
- Put your toothpaste and toothbrush in your bag so you can brush your teeth after meals even when you're away from home. This way you won't risk showing bits of food between your teeth while smiling.
Step 3. Avoid botox
You may have thought about using botox injections to smooth out the fine lines around your mouth. In that case, remember that this is a decision that can only be made in collaboration with an aesthetic doctor. Also, be aware that you run the risk of botox blocking the muscles of your face, compromising your ability to smile.
- Injections of botox around the eyes can have equally negative consequences, as the eyes play a vital role in a spontaneous smile.
- Some research has shown that people who undergo botox injections are 50% more likely to feel miserable and depressed. The exact cause is not yet clear, but it may have to do with how botox interferes with the ability to naturally express emotions.
Step 4. Get your teeth whitening treatment
If you feel embarrassed about some small imperfections in your smile, you can try to eliminate them. The natural shade of the teeth ranges from gray to yellowish and tends to darken with age. Substances such as tobacco, tea or coffee can also contribute to staining them. While they are not made to be perfectly white, many people choose to undergo whitening treatments to have a brighter smile.
- Dental whitening products clean, whiten and polish the teeth by means of a surface abrasive action. You can buy whitening toothpaste at a pharmacy; Since many of the ingredients are also contained in regular toothpastes, using them regularly shouldn't risk damaging your teeth.
- There are more concentrated products that perform a deeper cleaning of the enamel. Ask your dentist for advice as not all work on all types of enamel and tooth stains. In the case, for example, of fillings, crowns, intense spots, etc. may not work. These treatments can be used at home, but only under the supervision of the dentist.
Step 5. Consider getting help from your dentist
Unfortunately, some people do not take care of the hygiene and health of their teeth or do it in the wrong way. Having a missing, crooked tooth or bad gums can be a source of considerable embarrassment. Most of these problems can be solved with the intervention of the dentist.
In case of more serious problems, you can consider having a total reconstruction of the teeth done. Talk to your dentist, he may be able to help you personally or refer you to an oral surgery expert
Advice
- These techniques can help you smile more spontaneously, but also make you generally feel happier and in a good mood.
- Memorize a phrase or scene that you find tremendously hilarious and use it at the right moment to smile spontaneously. It could be, for example, a television sketch. Choose several so you don't run out of a good reason to smile.
