One thing you can do instantly to feel a bit happier

If a part of you thought that this was a click-bait title then you’d be forgiven.

With that in mind I think it’s now important for me to not waffle and get straight to the point.

It is smiling.

Being happy and smiling isn’t a one way street.

It’s not as simple as something happens, you feel happy and therefore you smile. It actually works in the other direction as well.

If you smile, even your most forced “I really don’t want to smile at all” smile will trick your brain into releasing brain chemicals dopamine and serotonin.

Dopamine can be thought of as “the happiness chemical” whereas serotonin when released is responsible for reducing our stress levels.

Loosely dopamine levels being low are associated with aggression and depression and serotonin being low is strongly linked with depression.

Our brain is an idiot

The great news is that we are more intelligent than our own brain. This seems very backwards and probably is. 

But our brain doesn’t know the difference between the smile you make when you see a sports outtake of someone getting hit in the balls and the smile you make as you see your ex in public when she’s with your kids.

To your brain it’s a big stupid smile either way and it assumes something great is happening and hence releases those awesome feel better chemicals.

Your brain is recognising that muscle activity associated with smiling and responding accordingly.

I’m fully aware that this seems entirely backwards as our brain has to instruct the muscles to make the smile in the first place but this isn’t just bullshit I’m throwing at you it’s backed up with actual science

Smile yourself better

It has been proven that depression, unsurprisingly perhaps, weakens our immune system and in keeping with that feeling happy improves our immune response.

I’m not here to debate whether that’s fair or just I’m just bringing you the science but it does suck that when you’re depressed you’re also more prone to getting ill and recovery from injuries takes longer. 

I understand this all sounds like a little crazy but smiling can and does lower our heart-rate and stress levels.

I’d honestly like you to try this right now.

Smile as hard as you can.

Your biggest, stupidest most goofy smile.

Hold it long and proud.

Hold it for way longer than you feel sensible to do so.

Do it for a minute.

Don’t read on until you have.

HEY, I said don’t read on.

Oh, you had, well thanks for doing so.

The absolute worst case scenario is that you feel a silly and end up laughing at yourself a bit.

OH MY GOD HOW AWFUL?

You laughed at yourself? 

You mean you literally created a moment of increased happiness for yourself?

What if you did that every morning as part of your wake-up routine?

Got yourself up and dressed and then spent 30-60 seconds deliberately smiling as hard and as goofy as you could.

Creating your own moment of increased joy to set the tone of your day.

What if in the face of any adversity your first response was to smile long and hard about it?

Implement this into your life for a few weeks and I genuinely believe that you’ll notice the difference.

Long term happiness

If you’re thinking that this only works in the short term then you’re partially right. It will only boost your happiness for a short while but also there’s no limit on how many times you can do it and, as mentioned, it can easily be adopted as part of a daily routine.

For a slightly longer term fix then my blog on the first step towards happiness is would be a good read for you.

If you’re looking to improve your life and learn to make better decisions for yourself and your future then get in touch using the form below and I’ll get some information straight across to you.