I see new people pretty much every minute of every day and I have realized that throwing a smile in their direction only has positive outcomes. I have always been known as a smiley person because I mean I have a lot of reasons to smile, right? Even though like everyone else, I have bad days too? Right.
1. I can brighten someone’s day
Smiles scientifically (trust me on this one) improve people’s mood. I take personal enjoyment in other people’s happiness, so if someone is having a crappy day, even if they're a stranger, and I can make it better, or even if they are having a good day and I can make it even better by such a tiny act, I’m definitely going to take up that opportunity.
2. I might get a smile back, which will then brighten MY day
CrAzY how that works right? Happiness is contagious in the best way. Smiles make other people happy, and they make me happy. I have definitely noticed here at college that people are eager to reciprocate a smile, it’s pretty great actually. The other day, I smiled at a random guy walking down the hallway and he smiled back and asked me how I was doing… It was a two-second conversation but it really made me happy! Not all people are cynical recluses.
3. Fake it 'til ya make it
This article is starting to make it seem like I’m this happy-go-lucky fairy sprinkling my happiness dust around the world. As much as I would like to think of myself in that way, I am absolutely not like that all the time (being completely realistic here). But, if I’m feeling sad or grumpy, even faking a smile improves my overall demeanor. Forcing myself to shake off the bad vibes usually makes the bad vibes go away.
All in all, smiles are like a powerful secret weapon. Whip one out and boom you make someone’s day, or you can even make yourself feel better. I highly recommend (5 stars, 10/10) smiling. It's EXTREMELY simple, and if you need some technical help, I’m sure there are some youtube videos that could help you out. This might seem completely ridiculous, but give it a shot anyway! Cheese it up and see what happens.