It turns out the old adage is true: it takes more facial muscles to smile muscles than it does to frown. Smiling can improve personal happiness, but the happiness of others as well. Just like a yawn, when one person smiles, the other one smiles too.

Not only can smiling help your own health, but it may help your career as well. The benefits of smiling have been well documented:

1. Boosts the immune system
2. Increases positive thoughts
3. Reduces stress
4. Lowers blood pressure
5. Makes people appear to be younger
6. Enhances other people’s perception of you

Increased Trust

How smiling affects others is especially important to any sales person. When people have a positive impression of you, they are more likely to listen to you, trust in what you say and spend more time with you.

Smiles and Spending

New research showed the correlation between people’s spending habits and their overall happiness. When people are smiling and feeling content and optimistic, they tend to spend more money than when they are having a bad day. It’s something to think about, when you are in the sales profession.

Phone Smile

Believe it or not, smiling can even help when talking on the phone. A study from the conducted by the University of Portsmouth looked at the ways that smiling affects the way messages are delivered. An upbeat, delivery combined with a healthy grin imparts good feelings from the listener.

Improved Productivity

Another report showed that smiling while you work actually increases productivity. Finding the positive and the humorous moments in your day certainly will boost your mood, but it will help you weather the challenging moments as well.

Laugh Out Loud

Have a laugh! It goes without saying that laughing improves your mood and helps stressful situations seem less severe. It helps your day go a bit more smoothly and increases your overall outlook.

Optimist Attitude

Of course, smiling will contribute to overall optimism and positive thinking. Findings from one report stated that people who smile look at situations in a more positive light.

Tips to Try

So what about the days that you’re just not in the mood to smile? How can you turn that frown upside down? Here are some tips to help you improve your mood and just smile:

• Get Physical: Move around, stretch, and take a walk. Any kind of physical activity will get those endorphins going and help to improve a bad mood. Extra points for getting your physical activity outdoors—vitamin D can improve your mood.
•  Make a List: Quick—write down three things that you are grateful for. A gratitude journal will help you recognize the positive things in your life and boost your mood.
•  Help Others: Your mood will improve by helping other people. Reaching out to those less fortunate will help you feel better about yourself.
• Turn it Around: Take a negative situation and make it positive. So you got stuck in traffic today. That means you had extra time to rehearse your presentation.
• Try Something New: Even a small change in your daily routine can help brighten your outlook.
• Phone a Friend: By surrounding yourself with positive people, you gain new perspective. Call an upbeat friend and maybe their mood will rub off on you.