Smiling Is Contagious - You Are Infecting Others

Author:
Tonette Fornillos
Updated:
Dec 24, 2024

Smiling has the ability to influence your mood as well as the moods of those around you. Humans are inclined to imitate other people's facial expressions. So, smiles are scientifically shown to be contagious.

When someone you don't know smiles at you, and you smile back... you feel good! The pleasant disposition you received improved your mood. Finding it easy and comfortable giving back the gesture (whether you know the person or not) makes you a healthy infection.

The overall effect tells you that you're feeling happy on the inside. It's simple and, in most cases, totally spontaneous enough to brighten up everyone's mood. Smiling can even affect the way one person is received by another over the phone. That's how magical a smile can make you attractive.

The Pleasantly Contagious Smile

A person who smiles is a joy to others. Imagine yourself in a room full of smiling people and you will find yourself smiling. Grinning is contagious. When you smile, it causes others to smile too. There seems like a power that when you see others grinning it creates some kind of a happy force urging you to do the same.

Three! Our Perfectly Captured Moment
My photos

To Smile Is An Attitude

Every morning when you come to work, everybody seems so serious about their own stuff. Start the smile rolling and you'll see how it fills the room with positiveness.

Ask colleagues how they are doing and automatically they will start telling you how they feel. Even with people who seem to keep frowning -- smile at them and say hi. Instinctively, their faces will go light and you caused that feeling of joy, even for a single moment.

Smiling is not just because you want others to like you. Your habit of smiling is very much like increasing the speed of other people's motor vehicle engines to ignite favorableness. It is not to be denied how you have raised their overall sense of self-worth. If they perform better and bring optimism wherever they go - you just infected them with your positiveness.

Smile Makes You Look Attractive

A genuine smile lights up your face and makes you look stunning, healthy, and glowing. It is very much different from simply trying to look cheerful. Faking a smile represents a blank expression that is easily sensed.

Even if you don't talk, your amused expression throws a positive communication. It is the essence of something beautiful within you. It is an expression of how you appreciate those around you. The most beautiful smile is one that comes out naturally.

Smiling from the heart attracts others to do the same. The normal feeling of cheerfulness radiating from within makes you look gracefully attractive inside and out. Having a positive expression makes you appear naturally happy.

People who see you in a happy demeanor would also wish to feel good about themselves. The happiness they see in you boosts up positive energy in them that likewise promotes self-confidence. There actually is no reason for you to hide those smiles. So give them away.

Smile Helps Relieve Stress

Did you know that smiling can trick the brain to ward off worry and tension?

Stress is known to make the body feel angry and it shows up in the face. Smiling somehow dissolves the pressure that's boiling inside. Even when just pretending, the sense that your brain releases a smile means it has activated some mood-boosting neurotransmitters that can trick it to slowly work towards fighting off stress.

The more you smile, the more you pacify your heart rate, and the more you are pulling yourself in the direction of good energy. People around you may feel the pressure within you, but when they see you smile, believe it or not, it alleviates their mood as well.

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So even if you don't feel like smiling, give it a go. Don't hold. You will thank yourself that you gave the smile a chance to win over frustration and save the rest from feeling the same.

Smile Makes You Feel Young

I don't know if you notice, but people who smile seem to look younger than their actual age. The reason is that every single smile gives you a day younger. Wow, amazing.

It certainly makes you look at peace when you're smiling. Other than it carries over to the idea of youthfulness, the muscles used to smile lift the face, making a person appear flawless and undisturbed.

Look at all of the smiling faces on TV ads and magazines. There is something in their smile that is so inspiring. You too desire to post a "smiling you" on Facebook, right? That's because it feels so good when your friends find you gorgeous.

If you believe in this perception, go ahead. Share a smile.

Smiling Makes You Seem Successful

Very few would argue that smiling can truly impact your chances of success - be it about what you want in life, in a relationship, or in stemming a career.

The law of attraction says positive attract another positive. If smiling brings you to the positive side of life then the same energy will come back to you.

I would say that people who smile regularly carry confidence that reflects in the things they do. Chances are they perform better, commit fewer mistakes, and lead proactively. Since they are more driven to this positive aspect, they are more likely to be approached. The result is they deserve to be promoted.

This is why customer service people are more effective when they talk to customers with a friendly smile.

So, if you stay focused on the good in your life, you will automatically attract more good and positive things into your life. I'm not saying you must wear a smile all the time. Remember that it has to be genuine to be fruitful.

How to Make That Perfect Smile

A smile gives you not only a pleasant appearance. There's more to it than just an expression. In fact, a smile is a form of communication that influences people’s perceptions of you.

A smile doesn't need rules and practice. So long as you do it naturally. Start by thinking beautiful. Do it as wide enough so your side teeth will show. Don't worry, you always look good when you smile.

Just SMILE!

What Your Smile Says About You

Some Thoughts About Smiling

Comments

Tonette Fornillos (author) from The City of Generals on June 23, 2013:

You are a sunshine to others, rls, and even if some don't smile back at you the feeling that you made them feel appreciated is enough to let them know smiling is healthy and beautiful. Anytime I'm sure you'll see some of them start to give back smiles. Thanks for the smiles, sending them back a basketful! Hugs...:=)Tonette

rls8994 from Mississippi on June 22, 2013:

I love to smile and love making others smile. It is definitely contagious! Loved this hub! Smiles to you! :)

Tonette Fornillos (author) from The City of Generals on April 06, 2013:

That is so wonderful of you Darrin. There truly is nothing than a pure smile. The baby is my niece and capturing that smile is like a single click that's worth a thousand smiles. When a baby smiles, it's enough to erase a day's stress, it's enough to pacify an angry heart, and its more than enough to comfort a worrying mind. GOD is so wonderful!

My best wishes for you and your baby. His/her smile and your love is among the powers of happiness. Thank you for sharing that to us here, you're a wonderful Dad. All my best and best of all.:=) -Tonette

Darrin Wiggins on April 06, 2013:

There is nothing more awesome then seeing the genuine smile on a baby's face. Whenever I see my baby smile it reminds me of the importance of just letting go and allowing ourselves to feel true inner happiness. That smile on a baby's face is just that - true happiness. Great Hub.

Tonette Fornillos (author) from The City of Generals on March 01, 2013:

Thank you LongTimeMother. So nice of you dropped by. Thanks for liking the photos and for the kind vote. Sending you smiles to make your days. Blessings! -Tonette

LongTimeMother from Australia on February 28, 2013:

Great photos. Great hub. Voted up.

Tonette Fornillos (author) from The City of Generals on September 08, 2012:

Hi Peggy -- Thank you. You too made me smile big knowing how my smiley hub has become healthily contagious. Yes, one of the greatest things to start and end a day, is a smile. Cheers to you!

Hello healthylife2 -- So true. I just wonder why many people refuses to give away what's supposed to be, like you said, free. Perhaps we only need to start and be contagious:=)... Thank you for reading and commenting. Best wishes!

healthylife2 on September 08, 2012:

A smile is free and the effect it has on others is priceless. The pictures made me smile. Voted up!

Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on September 08, 2012:

I'm smiling as I read this because it is all so true. A smile is a definite mood lifter and is contagious. This hub (and many smiles) should be shared! It is a great way to start one's day and also end it. Up votes as well. :))

Tonette Fornillos (author) from The City of Generals on March 31, 2012:

Hello Dexter! I'd like to thank you first for dropping by, I don't know what to say after getting a visit from a wonderful author, but THANK YOU!

If others got a better day from the simple act of your smile, I got a better chance of improving my writing from all your inspiring work. You're a sunshine to the world of writing and thank you for that. Thanks for that big vote Dexter! More power to you and blessings all the time.

Dexter Yarbrough from United States on March 31, 2012:

Hi Tonipet! Smiling is a wonderful thing. And it really is contagious. I try and smile at everyone I meet. Just that simple act can sometimes change a persons day for the better. Voted up, up and away! Great hub!

Tonette Fornillos (author) from The City of Generals on October 27, 2011:

Very true ronhi, and the more you bring enthusiasm to others, the more you help lift people's spirits high. Thanks for the awesome comment. Keep up that smile!

ronhi from Kenya on October 27, 2011:

What i love about smiling is that the more you give it, the more you keep getting it back and just like you said, when you smile, you bring enthusiasm to others. Great hub. Voted up, interesting and awesome

Tonette Fornillos (author) from The City of Generals on October 23, 2011:

Great to know that, I'm glad my hub made you smile. Smiling is really contagious :-) Thanks for dropping by!

Kate P from The North Woods, USA on October 19, 2011:

I'm smiling so much now! Thanks!! :):)

Tonette Fornillos (author) from The City of Generals on October 16, 2011:

Very true carco! If I see people who find it easy to smile, I find them nice to be around, I feel everything is radiant. Just the power of SMILE! Thanks for dropping by. Here's a basketful of smiles for you and your wonderful family. Thanks for the vote:=)

Paul Cronin from Winnipeg on October 15, 2011:

Smiling is an amzing mood booster, people who smile a lot do lite up the room, makes you want to be around them. They look so approachable. Great HUb, Voted Up and awesome!

Tonette Fornillos (author) from The City of Generals on September 10, 2011:

That is great... you made me smile with that! Wonderful of you to have dropped by. I hope more and more smiles will fill the world. Thank you.

LittlePayday from Online @ www.LittlePayday.com on September 09, 2011:

:) this hub made me smile

Tonette Fornillos (author) from The City of Generals on September 07, 2011:

It's great you find the hub lovely, thanks to you! I salute your vision to help real people. I know you can make it. Thanks for visiting cat, following you :)

Catherine Simmons from Mission BC Canada on September 07, 2011:

That last pic probably made me smile the most :-D

Lovely hub..

Tonette Fornillos (author) from The City of Generals on September 07, 2011:

It just showed the awesome inside of you Tatara. I can see it in your eyes. I'm glad you've dropped by, somehow I made you smile! Cheers!

Tatara from Asia on September 07, 2011:

I looove it. Very uplifting:-) Pretty picture and sunny hub!

Tonette Fornillos (author) from The City of Generals on September 07, 2011:

Oh, thank you for the inspiring words, you just made me smile! You just have proven to the world how lovely it is to give free smiles. Thanks for that inspiration. Lovely photo you got. More power and love to you!

Gail Sobotkin from South Carolina on September 07, 2011:

I thoroughly enjoy giving free smiles and getting them back in return. It's the best mood lifter aside from walking. Loved this hub and the delightful photos which are sure to put a smile on the face of all who view them. Voted up across the board.

Tonette Fornillos (author) from The City of Generals on September 07, 2011:

Hi floating mind. Wow. You're not just contagious in a smile but fast! Thanks for the awesome thought. Many times I smile at people who ignore my smiles, but it doesn't stop me there. I'd still love to be contagious. I'm with you a 100%. Thank you.

floating mind from Chicago, Illinois on September 07, 2011:

I agree with you one hundred percent!

Great hub. And I always pass on a smile. On some days, during my lunch break, I walk around town to see how many strangers I can get to smile back at me. Typically, about 99% of the people will return a smile. It's awesome!