Surprising reason why people smile: It makes you happier

There's more to smiling than simply trying to be nice and polite. Studies show that smiling can actually make you happier, even when you're faking it! In other words, from a young age, we've smiled countless times while in the presence of others or when experiencing something, be it a first kiss or heartfelt moment in a movie. Unbeknownst to us, that very smile was putting us in a better mood, making us even more likely to enjoy that special kiss or captivating movie scene.

Now, does this mean that smiling around your obnoxious boss or meddling in-laws can make you like them more? That's probably a stretch.

I think smiling can best be put to use in certain situations. For example, when you're nervous about something -- say, a presentation you have to make before a crowd of 100 people -- smiling can likely calm your nerves and put you in a more positive frame of mind: Instead of thinking "I'm going to do terribly," you may feel you can actually wow your audience.

The same goes for feeling depressed. I've noticed that when I am going through tough times, smiling helps me feel a little better. I remember situations in which I smiled out of joy and tell myself that I will likely be in that position again before I know it.

Did you know that smiling can make you happier? Did you ever realize this for yourself?

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