The Power of a Smile

I've been wondering how many times a day I smile.
I have two jobs this summer, one at a credit union, and one at a tutoring agency, so I have plenty of opportunities to smile.
As I've been considering this, I am beginning to realize there's usually two very different responses to a smile.

When I'm tutoring, 99% of the time, a kid's first response is to smile back. I think it's part of being young and un-jaded, and it's one of the millions of reasons I want to spend the rest of my life working with kids.
It's also a reason I wish I could go back to being a kid.

One of my favorite quotes

Psychologically, our automatic response to a smile is to smile back. Yet even before our facial muscles react, when we receive a smile from someone, our brain releases endorphins (the chemical responsible for happiness and Joy) into our brain. A returned smile creates even more endorphins, and a connection is made between two people. It is actually healthy for you to smile! 

Then there's the second response, which I get more often: The un-reciprocated smile. Otherwise known as the Dead-Eyed-Stare-Straight-Ahead Look. The look you get often when you're in customer service. 

Maybe that person has had a hard day. 

Maybe they are upset about a problem they're having.

Maybe they just don't like to smile.

Whatever the reason, this type of reaction can be a little deflating.

Personally, I see it as a challenge. 

Once I get this type of reaction, I try to make it my goal to get that person to smile. Sometimes I'll ask them questions, tell a silly joke (puns are my favorite, and they're usually effective), or just be as genuine and kind as I can. 

And you know what?

85% of the time, it works, and they're smiling at the end of our conversation. 

My smile gives them Joy, and their smile gives me Joy. 

It's a win-win.

Maybe trying to make people smile isn't your cup of tea, but what can you do every day to try to spread a little Joy?

Hanna Elizabeth