{"id":236994,"date":"2020-10-24T20:11:32","date_gmt":"2020-10-24T20:11:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sassypantsdesign.com\/?p=236994"},"modified":"2021-03-29T21:37:33","modified_gmt":"2021-03-29T21:37:33","slug":"who-knew-smiling-could-make-you-happy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sassypantsdesign.com\/?p=236994","title":{"rendered":"Who knew smiling could make you happy?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.6.1″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.6.1″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]
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Ok, maybe that sounds rather basic. In fact, I\u2019m sure you<\/strong><\/em> knew that already. But I<\/i><\/b> used to think that we smile because\u00a0we are happy, rather than the reverse. However, a credible volume of research tells us that both are true. You may not be feeling happy at all, but if you smile, it will change how you feel.<\/p>\n

Pinkie swear.<\/p>\n

It really works.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Case in point: I was headed out to volunteer in my daughter-in-law\u2019s kindergarten class the other morning. I immediately proceeded to get stuck in a massive amount of traffic in my own neighborhood<\/em> near the elementary school. (WHY<\/em> do people not let their children walk two blocks to school anymore? But I digress.)<\/p>\n

Frustrated, I whipped a U-turn and went the only other way out of the neighborhood, only to find myself behind a person going 15 mph in a 30 mph zone. (WHY<\/em> do people\u2026oh never mind.)<\/p>\n

Time was ticking away and I needed to get on the freeway and up the coast. I sat in another jam on the metered ramp to the freeway (welcome to southern California), and finally made my way north on Interstate 5 through heavy traffic, with just enough time to park and race in to the school, breathless. Needless to say, I was not particularly happy. On the contrary, I was downright frazzled.<\/p>\n

And I was definitely<\/i><\/b> not smiling.<\/p>\n

However, the minute I saw that room full of kindergarten cuteness, I smiled, and instantly felt my stress slip away. It was magic.<\/p>\n

There have been studies done that show that merely holding a pencil in your teeth lengthwise so it creates a smile (or perhaps a grimace, depending on your mood) will change how you feel. Try it!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\n<\/div>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]\"grimace\" \n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]

It is believed that the facial changes involved in smiling actually have a direct effect on the brain activities associated with happiness.\n<\/p>\n

You\u2019ve surely seen the difference between an authentic smile (where the eyes are involved), and a fake smile, where the only thing that changes is the mouth. Incidentally, the authentic smile is called a Duchenne smile, after the neurologist Guillaume Duchenne. He identified the muscles involved 1862. Who knew? Well, it turns out that even a FAKE smile will change your mood. <\/p>\n

Fake it until you make it<\/h4>\n\n

The conclusion is that even if you don\u2019t feel like it, fake it. Smile. You\u2019ll feel better. You might even start rocking one of those Duchenne smiles.<\/p>\n

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Or, if that is too much work, you could pick up a couple of Sassypants Design cards. Those are guaranteed<\/i><\/b> to make you smile.<\/span><\/p>\n

Just sayin\u2019.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ok, maybe that sounds rather basic. In fact, I\u2019m sure you knew that already. But I used to think that we smile because\u00a0we are happy, rather than the reverse. However, a credible volume of research tells us that both are true. 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