You’ve probably heard the expressions “grin and bear it,” and “turn that frown upside down.” Urging someone to “put on a happy face”—or smile—is so common that these expressions reflect an intuitive understanding that donning a smile is good for us—and those around us.
Decades of research into the science of smiling also supports what so many have sensed is true—the simple act of putting on a smile—is beneficial for both our physical and mental health. The bigger the better.
Could something as simple as smiling actually lower stress levels? A study conducted by Tara L. Kraft and Sarah D. Pressman from the University of Kansas Psychology Department, and published in the September 2012 issue of Psychological Science had participants hold a chopstick in their mouths in such a way as to produce a ‘Duchenne’ (aka ‘real’) smile, a standard smile, or a neutral expression….