Smile — the word itself gives you a smile, doesn’t it? We all smile, however, we often don’t realise the power it holds. It can change the way we feel, how others see us and even how successful we become in life.

Smile is an expression of emotions. It makes us feel good because it activates the reward centre in our brain. Some studies have shown that smiling actually gives the brain more pleasure than chocolate does.

Ever heard of the feel-good chemicals like dopamine and serotonin? Well, they are released by our brain cells which make us feel happy. Interestingly, it happens even if the smile isn’t completely real. Just using the muscles to form a smile can send a message to the brain that something good is happening, which can lead to a better mood.

Yes, with just a little twitch of your face, you can kick stress out in that very moment. I don’t mean you should keep smiling when something bad happens or when you’re not in the mood, but to trick your brain, all you need to do is find something that makes you smile. It could be looking at something you love or talking to someone you enjoy. The moment you smile; you start to reduce stress hormones, like cortisol, almost instantly.

Smile has a ripple effect. When you smile at someone, they usually smile back. That’s because our brains have mirror neurons, which make us copy what we see. So when we see a smile, we want to smile too, kind of like how yawns are contagious. And the best part? When you smile at others, you’re not just making yourself feel better, you’re also making their day a little brighter.

Smiles nurture relationships: Smiling makes it easier to connect with others. Think about when the last time you saw someone passing a smile to you, didn’t you feel happy? Didn’t you also pass smile? So yes, it makes us appear more approachable and friendly. Whether you are at a formal setting or informal, a smile always makes a great first impression.

Wherever you are, a genuine smile can help people feel comfortable around you, and even you feel comfortable with someone you meet for the first time. So passing a smile leads to better relationships, more opportunities and even a stronger social network.

Fake smiles aren’t always bad: Here comes a little twist to this beautiful friendly expression. Not all smiles are the same. A fake smile, one that doesn’t involve the emotions or eye expression. This smile feels forced and we can easily tell when a smile isn’t real and it often makes others feel uncomfortable around us, and you around those who wear a fake smile. Did you happen to notice it lately?

However, it doesn’t mean fake smiles are always bad. In fact, studies have found that even a forced smile can help improve your mood. This is because the brain picks up on the muscle movement and reacts as if the smile is real. Interestingly, the fake smiles can often lead to genuine feelings of happiness.

It lifts you when you are feeling down: As said earlier, there’s a physical connection between your smile and your brain. Many doctors and therapists encourage people to smile more, especially during stressful moments because this send signals to your nervous system and helps to calm your body.

Smiling isn’t just about making a mood good and forming relationships good, it affects how you feel about yourself. It is one of the easiest and most powerful tools we have in possession that we don’t realise. It doesn’t cost us anything, it takes only a second, and it can completely change your day or someone else’s.

So next time you feel stressed, tired or unsure of yourself, try smiling. You might be surprised at how much it helps.

Published in Dawn, Young World, May 17th, 2025