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There's really no need to be stingy with your smile. If you smile more often at work, even if there's nothing specific to be happy about, it really does lighte

There's really no need to be stingy with your smile. If you smile more often at work, even if there's nothing specific to be happy about, it really does lighten up the mood and make people cheerier. People will want to work with you more. Also, I hope I don't sound like a sociopath here, but smiles are a form of brain hacking. If they are genuine, or at least seem genuine, they disarm people and make them more receptive to you. Also, I've heard that it's a way of hacking your own brain, to make yourself happier than you would otherwise be, just by smiling. One of the easiest things you can do to give better presentations is to learn to genuinely smile while giving them. Not all the time, but a smile peppered here or there. This works wonders on investors.

aegiso 13y ago
Did you read the article? The whole thing is basically an argument for why your comment is culturally insensitive and myopic.
- nostromo 13y ago
  Yes. I'm responding to, "Russians need a reason to smile." Russians can do whatever they like of course, but I'm discussing the possible benefits of the American model of smiling for no particular reason.
- cm2012 13y ago
  It is not at all a proven fact that smiles have purely a cultural/nurture effect. We can entertain the idea that smiling affects humans regardless of culture, and that it would be objectively better for human happiness to consciously create smiles.
deleted 13y ago
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bowlofpetunias 13y ago
To be perfectly honest, and I'm not trying to be personally aggressive here, that kind of behavior makes me want to punch people in the face. A smile is an involuntary response. Unless you are a really, really good actor with full control over ever muscle in your body, people will spot a fake smile ("if there's nothing specific to be happy about") from a mile away. It's not even a conscious thing, human body language is a way more complex symphony than just curling your lips a bit. And in cultures in which artificial smiling is not a common thing that is seen as patronizing at best, and insulting at worst. So unless you are in a country like the US, where people are used to such behavior, I would go easy on the "brain hacking".
- nostromo 13y ago
  I'm with you. I'm not a proponent of fake smiling. Another way to think about it: try and be more like the Dalai Lama. Notice how he's often smiling? Notice how when he greets strangers, he takes a genuine interest in their well being? You may want to punch Tony Robbins in the face, but I doubt you want to punch the Dalai Lama in the face. That's the goal I think. Not to brain hack by fake smiling, but to brain hack by practicing real empathy and finding inner happiness.
- sejje 13y ago
  So make it a genuine smile, by working something into the conversation/pitch/whatever that is authentic and amusing to you. Not to mention, I'm guessing you're in the huge minority here. Like people who boycott products with annoying ads. Annoying ads which are proven to work.
PavlovsCat 13y ago
> smiles are a form of brain hacking. "Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy." -- Thich Nhat Hanh

aegiso 13y ago

Did you read the article? The whole thing is basically an argument for why your comment is culturally insensitive and myopic.

nostromo 13y ago
Yes. I'm responding to, "Russians need a reason to smile." Russians can do whatever they like of course, but I'm discussing the possible benefits of the American model of smiling for no particular reason.
cm2012 13y ago
It is not at all a proven fact that smiles have purely a cultural/nurture effect. We can entertain the idea that smiling affects humans regardless of culture, and that it would be objectively better for human happiness to consciously create smiles.

deleted 13y ago

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bowlofpetunias 13y ago

To be perfectly honest, and I'm not trying to be personally aggressive here, that kind of behavior makes me want to punch people in the face. A smile is an involuntary response. Unless you are a really, really good actor with full control over ever muscle in your body, people will spot a fake smile ("if there's nothing specific to be happy about") from a mile away. It's not even a conscious thing, human body language is a way more complex symphony than just curling your lips a bit. And in cultures in which artificial smiling is not a common thing that is seen as patronizing at best, and insulting at worst. So unless you are in a country like the US, where people are used to such behavior, I would go easy on the "brain hacking".

nostromo 13y ago
I'm with you. I'm not a proponent of fake smiling. Another way to think about it: try and be more like the Dalai Lama. Notice how he's often smiling? Notice how when he greets strangers, he takes a genuine interest in their well being? You may want to punch Tony Robbins in the face, but I doubt you want to punch the Dalai Lama in the face. That's the goal I think. Not to brain hack by fake smiling, but to brain hack by practicing real empathy and finding inner happiness.
sejje 13y ago
So make it a genuine smile, by working something into the conversation/pitch/whatever that is authentic and amusing to you. Not to mention, I'm guessing you're in the huge minority here. Like people who boycott products with annoying ads. Annoying ads which are proven to work.

PavlovsCat 13y ago

> smiles are a form of brain hacking. "Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy." -- Thich Nhat Hanh