What should we do with a smile?

Recently, someone posed an intriguing question that many of us can relate to: "Should I stop smiling when I'm talking to people? I've been doing it for years because I believed it made me appear less awkward." We've all been guilty of this to varying extents, sometimes realizing the need to stop quickly, while other times struggling to control it.

While a smile may appear the same on everyone's face, it can stem from a variety of emotions. There's the genuine happy smile, the nervous smile, the forced smile, the sad smile, and many more. In fact, research indicates that there are 19 different types of smiles, but only six of them signal genuine happiness. So, why do we smile in the first place? The answer lies in the neural mechanisms that activate the facial muscles responsible for smiling.

Smiles are social cues designed by nature to put others at ease. However, they're not always driven by happiness, even though they are often interpreted as such. Smiles can arise from pain, embarrassment, discomfort, horror, or even misery. They serve as a way to communicate that our mind is engaged in some capacity, whether it's signaling cooperation, non-aggression, or even subtly asserting social dominance in a particular interaction.

As you can see, there isn't a simple answer to the aforementioned question. Smiling is a nuanced social language that can be challenging to control, but we can be mindful of its interpretation.

By the way, did you know that when you force yourself to smile in front of a fitting room mirror, you're more likely to be inclined to make a purchase? That's the power of a smile, influencing our behavior in unexpected ways.