It should come as no surprise that smiling has numerous positive effects on our minds and bodies. In fact, smiling stimulates the reward mechanism of the brain even more than chocolate does. Not gonna lie, that freaks me out a bit as I’ve made loving chocolate my entire personality.
Don’t believe me? Just watch your favorite kidlet go through their day. Children are generally happier because they laugh more often during the course of a day than adults do.
Laughter really is the best medicine.
But don’t try to plaster a fake smile on your face, because that’s almost instantly recognizable from the real thing.
You can smile on the surface, but it will lack the feeling of genuine warmth. Those who find themselves on the receiving end of a fake smile will often feel unsettled without being able to put their finger on the reason why.
People may fake smile when they’re tired, not interested, or preoccupied. Some people may “put on a brave face” if they aren’t happy but want to remain positive for the sake of those around them.
But a real smile doesn’t just involve your mouth. Your eyes will confirm that your heart is involved.
Here are a few common personality traits of people whose smile is natural and genuine.
1) Genuinely happy
A genuine smile is a reflection of pure happiness. You may be happy to run into an old friend, with your latest test score, or just happy that it’s a beautiful day. Whatever your reason is, it’s reflected in your smile.
So, what is a genuine smile? Scientifically, an authentic smile is called a Duchenne smile, involving muscles not just in your mouth, but also your eyes.
Along with the prerequisite upturned mouth, a true smile is defined by the contraction of the muscles that cause the sides of your eyes to crinkle. So stop calling them crow’s feet and call them laugh lines because that’s what they really are.
Your eye muscles only get involved when you’re genuinely happy.
Now, it’s certainly possible to mimic a Duchenne smile when you want to give the impression that you’re truly happy, even when you aren’t.
But for the majority of us, only a genuine smile can produce that telltale eye crinkling.
2) Friendly
When you flash a genuine smile naturally, it’s an invitation for others to approach you because your smile shows those around you that you’re friendly and willing to interact with them.
Smiling is vital to relationship-building because it helps people signal that they’re open and interested in connecting.
3) Sociable
Another personality that people who always smile share is that they’re sociable.
They’re smiling when you bump into each other because they’re genuinely happy to see you.
It really is that simple.
People who tend to smile a lot are generally outgoing, and truly enjoy the company of others – be it their family, friends, co-workers, or favorite server. They genuinely enjoy being around other people and don’t care who knows it.
Their happy smiles are just part of their general demeanor and body language, which make them easy to approach and talk to.
4) Chill
Stress and anxiety are ongoing challenges for many of us, and smiling is an excellent stress reducer.
Stress and anxiety are ongoing challenges for many of us. Smiling more helps you reduce your stress level safely and naturally by reducing stress hormones in your bloodstream, which can help you sidestep adrenal fatigue.
5) Compassionate
Compassionate people not only care about the happiness and well-being and happiness of other people, but they’re also ready to help in any way they can.
So, naturally, they smile to show to others that they’re friendly and open to interaction.
A simple smile can communicate so many things – from understanding to empathy and support. It’s an outward sign of approachability and eagerness to be of assistance.
6) Trustworthy
When you genuinely smile, you’re most likely seen as more agreeable and trustworthy. A natural smile that lights up your face is a sign to others that you’re willing to meet them in the middle and that you’re worth their time and attention.
You’ll probably hear all their tea, whether you want to or not, just because people know you’re the real deal.
7) Confident
A genuine, open-mouthed smile shows that you’re comfortable in your own skin and have confidence in yourself and your abilities.
And, if you don’t feel confident at the moment and need a boost, smiling triggers your brain to produce happy chemicals until you do.
Fake it ‘til you make it!
8) Positive
Everyone has both positive and negative emotions vying for attention. When you make a conscious decision to smile and laugh more often, you tap into your brain’s happy place.
Your authentic smile bespeaks of a positive outlook. According to one study, a genuine smile helps you build strong connections with others, a quality that foretells good outcomes as you go through life.
People who are well known for their propensity to smile as young adults are more likely to be more successful in their personal and professional lives as they grow older.
9) Grateful
Sometimes people smile because they’re filled with gratitude. If you’ve ever lost, and then found, a beloved pet, you know what I mean.
Like when my kitten Gypsy was lost and I finally found her three days later, I had a big, goofy, grateful smile plastered on my face for days. I’ll bet people wondered what on earth I was grinning about, or what asylum I’d escaped from.
People smile because they’re thankful for the little (and big) blessings in their lives. These are probably the most authentic smiles of all.
10) Good coping skills
People who can still authentically smile following a traumatic event, including death, aren’t denying their emotions or avoiding reality. They’re simply being who they are.
It also means they probably have exceptional coping skills and a strong support system they can depend on.
Final thoughts
A smile is one of the most common of human expressions. Since smiling means the same thing in every culture, a smile is part of a universal language that binds us all together.
Plus, it takes more muscles to frown than to smile, so take the easier route and reap the benefits.
