Perhaps you’ve heard the expression, “Fake it till you make it.” If you’re like me, you’ve always been a bit wary of “faking it.” Not only is it inauthentic but tiring!

But there’s a fine line. Sometimes a little psychic push is needed to change your emotional parameters.

In a 1988 study, researchers at the University of Mannheim in Germany had participants look at Far Side cartoon strips under two conditions: One group of people was asked to hold pencils between their teeth, which forced their mouths into smiles. The others held the pencils with just their lips, which produced a frowning expression. According to the results, the people who’d been forced to smile found the comics far more hilarious than the frowners did.

So if you want to boost your mood, just grin and bear it. Soon enough, your smile will be for real. Science says so.

Source: Dr. Richard Wiseman’s Quirkology”