Fake it until you make it is a phrase I have heard a lot, and often discounted until I started studying Positive Psychology. Turns out, in some contexts, you can actually fake it until you make it. One such instance is smiling until you actually begin to feel more 'happy'.
Have you ever had a day where you just wake up in a bad mood and can't shake it? Let's be honest, I think 2020 has been an entire year, so far, of days like that. With good reason.
Today, I woke up irritated. It had to do with some news I read before going to bed, and I woke up thinking about it. I am very irritated by what I read, and also, irritated that I read this particular bit of news before going to bed last night. It was a bad idea, and I own that decision. Nonetheless, I woke up this morning cranky and concerned about this bit of news. So, I put some positive psychology research into action. The ole 'fake it until you make it'. Now, I am writing this blog with a bit more 'making it' and a bit less 'faking it'!
To the science: Turns out there are two basic kind of smiles. There is the natural sort of smile that happens organically, and activates a series of muscles in your face. You know this smile when you see it in others, and in photos. It is called the Duchenne smile. There is another sort of smile, also one you readily recognize when you see it, and let's just call it the fake smile. The fake smile does not activate all of the same facial muscles that the Duchenne smile does. We tend to prefer the Duchenne smile over the fake smile, for probably obvious reasons. On a bit of a side note, researchers have looked at the benefits of happiness as measured by the prevelance of the Duchenne smile, and have found in a variety of studies that people who are happy, who often have Duchenne smiles, and who talk about life in positive terms, tend to live healthier lives, more satisfied lives, and to live longer. Now, you might say: "No shit, people who are healthy and satisfied are bound to be happier!" But it is actually the other way around. People who are happy have stronger immune systems, take healthy risks to achieve important goals, and are more satisfied as a result! So, happiness matters. For real. Back to the smile.
So, it turns out that the Duchenne smile also sets off a chain reaction in our brain, specifically, it activates areas of the brain that are related to enjoyment, or pleasure. Further research has found that if you 'fake' smile long enough, and think about positive or pleasurable things, you can transition from a fake smile to a Duchenne smile. Thus, getting all of the benefits it elicits. So, you CAN fake it until you make it, when it comes to smiling.
The next time you recognize you are feeling a bit of negativity and wonder how you can change it, just think about something good, turn up the corners of your mouth and show us some teeth. Hold it, hold it, hold it... and keep holding it until you feel the great benefits of brain activation in those pleasure regions.
Comments