I’ll start off by saying that I’m generally a very happy person.
That said, I think we all have our off days and moments where for whatever reason we’re just not feeling our best.
One trick I’ve heard from people over the years is that forcing yourself to smile can actually improve your mood.
I’ve always been skeptical of this so I did a bit of research this morning, and the general consensus is that it actually works. They say that forcing a smile can actually decrease stress and make you happier.
Some of the evidence:
Study: Forcing a Smile Genuinely Decreases Stress
Why Faking a Smile Is a Good Thing
Smile! It Could Make You Happier
So I guess it’s time for me to test this myself. For the next few weeks, I’m going to try to remember to force an awkward smile whenever I’m in front of a mirror.
Feel free to check in with me in a couple of weeks and I’ll let you know if it actually works
