Smiling is one of the most basic human expressions. It’s used to convey happiness, friendliness, amusement, and a myriad of other positive emotions. But what actually happens, both physically and psychologically, when you stop smiling? Let’s take a closer look.
What is the purpose of smiling?
Smiling serves several important functions:
– It communicates positive emotions and intentions to others. Seeing someone smile puts us at ease and makes us feel welcome.
– It reinforces positive emotions within ourselves. Smiling sends signals to our brain that release dopamine and serotonin, making us feel happier.
– It is contagious. When we see someone smile, it triggers a response in our brain that makes us want to smile back. This helps promote bonding and connection.
– It relieves stress. Smiling helps lower cortisol levels and increase endorphins, alleviating anxiety and tension.
– It boosts your immune system. Smiling stimulates the production of antibodies and white blood cells, strengthening your body’s defenses.
– It increases attractiveness. Studies show that people who smile are rated as more attractive, sociable, confident, and intellectually competent.
So in short, smiling makes us happier, healthier, more likable, and more approachable. When we stop smiling, we lose out on all of these benefits.
Physical effects
On a physical level, several things happen when you stop smiling:
Facial muscles relax
Smiling requires the contraction of various facial muscles, including the zygomatic major muscle (used to pull the lips upward) and the orbicularis oculi muscles around the eyes. When you stop smiling, these muscles relax and return to their normal, neutral state. This results in a more serious, impassive facial expression.
Reduced endorphins
As mentioned earlier, smiling triggers the release of endorphins—chemicals that relieve pain and produce feelings of pleasure and well-being. When you stop smiling, your endorphin levels drop, potentially leading to increased pain sensitivity and a dip in your overall mood.
Cortisol increases
Cortisol is a hormone released in response to stress. Smiling helps keep cortisol levels low by signaling to your body that all is well. But when you stop smiling, cortisol production can ramp up, causing increased feelings of stress.
Facial tone decreases
The repeated muscle contractions involved in smiling help tone the over 60 muscles of the face and neck. Without regular smiling, facial muscles can weaken over time, leading to sagging skin and wrinkles.
Blood pressure may rise
Some studies have found that intentionally frowning and contracting facial muscles related to negative emotions can cause a slight spike in blood pressure. Smiling helps keep blood pressure lower.
Psychological effects
On a mental and emotional level, here is what can happen when you stop smiling:
Worse mood
Smiling boosts your mood by releasing neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. When you stop smiling, dopamine and serotonin levels drop, potentially worsening feelings of sadness, irritability, and depression.
Increased stress
As mentioned, a lack of smiling leads to increased cortisol, which creates greater feelings of stress. Smiling signals safety and well-being, so without it, you may feel more tense and anxious.
Reduced optimism
Smiling promotes optimism and hopefulness. Without smiling, your outlook on life may become more negative or pessimistic.
Weakened immune system
Lower antibody production caused by not smiling leaves you more vulnerable to viruses, infections, and disease.
Social isolation
Since smiling is a social bonding behavior, people who stop smiling may feel more socially disconnected and lonely. Others may also perceive you as unfriendly or aloof.
Decreased confidence
Studies show smiling increases self-confidence. When you stop smiling, feelings of self-assuredness tend to decline.
How long does it take to see effects?
Most of the effects of not smiling start to appear after just a short period of time. Here is an approximate timeline:
After 1 minute
– Facial muscles relax
– Endorphin production drops
– Cortisol levels increase slightly
– Blood pressure may rise marginally
After 1 hour
– Mood worsens
– More stress felt
– Social bonding decreases
After 1 day
– Confidence decreases further
– Immune function weakens
– Skin elasticity begins declining
After 1 week
– Depression/anxiety increases
– Facial tone/muscles weaken
– Wrinkles become more visible
So while some effects are noticed immediately, the longer you go without smiling, the worse the effects become. Most experts recommend smiling regularly throughout each day to maintain a positive state of mind and healthy body.
Prolonged effects
If you stop smiling for a prolonged period of time, the effects compound:
Higher risk of illness
With a weakened immune system, your risk of coming down with colds, flu, and other illnesses increases.
Premature aging
Loss of facial muscle tone and skin elasticity from lack of smiling can make wrinkles, jowls and other signs of aging appear earlier.
Ongoing negative outlook
Perpetual low mood, pessimism and depression becomes the norm without regular smiling.
Chronic stress
Cortisol and adrenaline levels may remain constantly elevated, putting you in a state of chronic stress with higher anxiety.
Social isolation
Over time, lack of smiling could severely impact your social and romantic connections, leading to profound isolation.
Decreased success
Studies show lower confidence, negative mood, and introversion caused by not smiling can hinder career, academic, and personal achievement.
So in the long-term, making an effort to smile frequently is crucial for both physical health and psychological well-being. Let’s examine some ways to ensure you keep smiling.
How to make yourself smile more
Here are some tips for making sure you smile enough each day:
Look at photos/videos that make you happy
Keep a folder on your phone of funny videos, cute animals, babies laughing, etc. that you know will automatically make you smile. Watch them regularly.
Laugh out loud for no reason
Just start laughing at random moments throughout the day. Thinking of something funny isn’t necessary—the physical act of laughing produces mood-boosting chemicals.
Hang out with funny friends
Surround yourself with people who make you smile and laugh. Their positive energy will rub off on you.
Try facial feedback exercises
Make different facial expressions like grinning, smirking, or laughing. Moving your facial muscles triggers corresponding emotions.
Practice smiling in the mirror
Stand in front of a mirror and smile for 5-10 minutes a day. Seeing yourself smile reinforces the neural pathway for smiling.
Consume funny media
Read funny books, listen to comedy podcasts, and watch sitcoms and standup specials. Immersing yourself in humorous content gets you smiling.
Smile at strangers
Smile more when you’re out in public. Smiling at those around you can lead to pleasant interactions that boost your mood.
Think positive thoughts
Focus your mind on happy memories, goals, appreciations, and visions of success. Upbeat thinking leads to more frequent smiling.
Consider therapy for depression
If lack of smiling is caused by depression or chronic negativity, seeking professional counseling can help get to the root cause.
Try face yoga exercises
Exercises like blowing out candles and saying “cheese” tone facial muscles. Doing these daily helps smiling become a habit.
The power of smiling
Overall, smiling has immense power to change your mood, outlook, health, and quality of life in a positive direction. Make a conscious effort to smile more by trying the tips discussed here. You—and those around you—will reap the countless benefits, both inside and out. Remember, your smile is one of your most valuable assets. Use it frequently and reap the rewards!
Conclusion
In summary, stopping smiling can have profound negative effects on both your physical and mental well-being relatively quickly. Lack of smiling leads to muscle relaxation, hormone changes, decreased endorphins, weakened immunity, higher cortisol, worse mood, and isolation. Prolonged lack of smiling exacerbates these effects, raising the risk of illness, premature aging, negativity, chronic stress, and lowered success. Make an effort to smile often using various techniques. Smiling boosts attractiveness, confidence, health, longevity, success, and quality of life, so be sure to smile frequently to unleash its power in your life!