You can see your real smile by comparing different expressions in photos or a mirror, focusing on how your eyes and cheeks are involved compared to just your mouth.
Spotting Your Genuine Smile
Identifying your real smile often involves observing the subtle differences in how your face muscles engage. While a forced or "fake" smile might only lift the corners of your mouth, a truly genuine smile typically involves more of your face.
According to the reference, you can:
- Look at pictures of yourself when you know you were genuinely happy (like laughing or enjoying a moment).
- Look at yourself in a mirror while trying out different smiles.
- Compare your mouth and face in different expressions.
Real vs. Fake Smiles
A key distinction, as highlighted by the reference, lies in the engagement of facial muscles beyond the mouth:
- "Fake" Smile: Generally involves only your mouth.
- "Real" Smile: Includes your eyes and cheeks. This often results in the crinkling around the eyes, sometimes called "crows' feet," and the lifting of the cheeks.
Think of it this way:
| Smile Type | Primary Muscle Involvement | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Fake | Mouth only | Corners of mouth turn up |
| Real | Mouth, Eyes, and Cheeks | Mouth turns up, eyes crinkle, cheeks lift |
Practicing Your Smile
Once you've spotted the differences between your expressions, the reference suggests practicing:
- Identify the feeling and facial engagement of your real smile from pictures or mirror practice.
- Practice making your "on-cue" smile in the mirror.
- Work on replicating the facial movements and feeling of your genuine one.
By consciously observing these distinctions and practicing, you can become more aware of what your authentic smile looks and feels like.
