A Look at The Advantages of Laughing and Being Cheerful

Introduction: The Power of a Smile

Famous ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle once said, "Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence" (thinkexist.com). Happiness is something we share with others, as well as an emotion that we experience individually. A universal way people recognize happiness in others is through a smile. According to Tan, Goh, Lim, and Sim, a smile or a smiling face is a symbol of happiness that reflects a state of mind or feelings such as contentment, satisfaction, pleasure, or joy (Tan et al., 2023, p. 10). A person who smiles consistently tends to leave a positive impression on others. However, maintaining a smile at all times can be challenging, especially when one is feeling down or depressed. Humans often understand the importance of concealing true emotions in certain situations. In such cases, a forced smile can mask these feelings. Moreover, there are four additional benefits to practicing a forced smile: being liked, being trusted, staying positive, and maintaining health. Even if it is not a genuine smile, a forced smile can make those around you perceive you as having a good personality, ultimately enhancing their happiness as well.

The Social Benefits of a Forced Smile

A forced smile is often employed to be liked by others. No one desires to be disliked, so we often resort to a forced smile, especially in the presence of individuals with higher status than ourselves. Subordinates may need to smile even when a boss induces stress, without displaying displeasure or sudden anger. Similarly, when a person attempts to integrate into a new group, they often use a smile as a tool for acceptance. At that time, a smiling face works wonders. People in the group perceive the newcomer as fitting in and feel at ease when they see their smiling face. Initially, the newcomer may not genuinely smile, but over time, they gradually adjust to the group. To foster good relationships, people can use a forced smile to appear genuinely interested in the group. Ultimately, when people want to be liked and adapt to unfamiliar social circles, a smiling face significantly aids in this process.

Trust Through Smiling

A smiling face not only helps one be liked and adapt to new groups but also fosters trust in others. For instance, an eager salesperson who smiles during interactions is often trusted more. In psychology, this phenomenon is known as the foot-in-the-mouth effect. My 80-year-old grandmother, who lived alone, once purchased expensive health equipment from a door-to-door salesperson. Curious about the salesperson, I asked my grandmother about him. She described him as polite and enthusiastic, always smiling while introducing the product. Consequently, she did not perceive him as deceitful, leading her to make the purchase. This is a negative example of using a forced smile. On the positive side, when a forced smile is used among friends or colleagues, it can establish you as a trustworthy individual. This experience demonstrates that a smiling face leaves a lasting impression on people and is effective in judging a person based on appearance.

Smiling for Positivity and Well-being

A forced smile is a powerful tool for building good relationships and cultivating a positive outlook on life. "A smile begets a smile, thus promoting well-being" (Tan et al., 2023, p. 10). For example, companies often prefer to hire individuals who smile during job interviews over those with sullen expressions. Amiable individuals tend to be evaluated favorably by their superiors even after joining a company. Tanzer, Shahar, and Avidan note that "a happy facial expression serves as a way of verifying one's positive conviction of their abilities, as reflected in others' appraisals" (Swann, 1983, p. 3). I truly felt the power of a smile while working as a server in a Japanese restaurant. The restaurant prioritized customer service, so the manager preferred to hire people with pleasant smiles and energetic attitudes. On my first day, I was surprised to see all the servers smiling throughout the open hours. Their smiles encouraged customers to smile, creating a lively restaurant atmosphere. While the servers' smiles were sometimes forced, they delighted customers, ultimately contributing to the restaurant's success. Whether genuine or forced, smiles make people feel happy and provide energy for life.

The Health Benefits of Smiling

A forced smile not only encourages positive thinking but also promotes physical health. Smiling induces relaxation and activates cells. It stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, leading to relaxation. Breathing, pulse, and blood pressure become calm, enhancing relaxation. This effect contributes to better sleep on happy days. Smiling also boosts immunity by activating natural killer cells, which can even combat cancer cells. Five years ago, my aunt was diagnosed with colon cancer. Her doctor advised her to smile as much as possible to boost her immunity, regardless of whether the smile was genuine or fake. Although her cancer remains, she has lived four years beyond her prognosis, possibly due to the positive effects of smiling. While this phenomenon is not fully proven, both genuine and forced smiles appear to enhance immunity.

Conclusion: Embracing the Forced Smile

In conclusion, while the term "forced smile" may not sound appealing, its benefits are significant. When people use a forced smile, others may recognize it as such. A poorly executed forced smile can be detected by others and lead to discomfort. People distinguish between genuine and forced smiles by observing facial muscle movements. Bernstein, Young, Brown, Sacco, and Claypoo define the automatic activation of two facial muscles in response to pleasure as a "true" smile (Bernstein et al., 2023, p. 982). These muscle movements differentiate genuine from forced smiles. A true smile involves the contraction of the orbicularis oculi and pars orbitals, along with the zygomaticus major, raising the cheeks and creasing the skin around the eyes. In contrast, a forced smile involves simultaneous movement of these two muscles, making it easily recognizable. By being mindful of this distinction and practicing a forced smile, individuals can foster likability, trust, positivity, and health, ultimately leading to happiness. According to the Happy Planet Index (HPI), which measures human well-being and environmental impact, America's HPI was 28.83 in 2006, ranking 150th worldwide. By 2009, the HPI increased to 30.7, with a higher rank of 114 (happyplanetindex.org). These statistics indicate that more Americans are experiencing happiness compared to 2006. However, this rate remains low compared to other countries. In the future, America's happiness rate may rise if people embrace the practice of forced smiling.

References

Bernstein, M. J., Young, S. G., Brown, C. M., Sacco, D. F., & Claypoo, M. (2023). Automatic activation of facial muscles in response to pleasure. Journal of Psychology, 982.

Swann, W. B. (1983). Happy facial expression as a way of verifying positive conviction. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 3.

Tan, C., Goh, W., Lim, E., & Sim, H. (2023). Smile and Well-being. Journal of Happiness Studies, 10.

Happy Planet Index. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://happyplanetindex.org