top of page
Search

[006] A Special Smile



Facial expression reflects your emotion. Period.


For me, without a good reason, I do not smile. Sometimes when I drive alone, I may suddenly realize that my facial muscles are quite tight. Checking in the rear-view mirror, wow! I do not believe how serious I look!



But there are people who always have shiny smiles on their faces!



I recently participated in a coach training program in New Zealand. It consisted of four days of face to face training, followed by 10 weeks of 3 online video sessions. In each session, around 20 of us were mentored by two Master Coaches (MCC) certified by the International Coach Federation.


It was fascinating to discover that the two master coaches have entirely distinct facial expressions from the student coaches. The students' facial expressions are usually enriched when it is their turn to speak. At other times, they are more focused, without a smile on. But these two master coaches are quite different. Whether they are listening to others or when they are speaking, they always have a big smile on their faces.





I am curious: Is putting a big smile on a criterion for a being master coach? Or does one simply become happier as a master coach?


Which came first? The chicken or the egg?


After some searching online, I found a result of anthropology and psychology that surprised me. Namely, the expression you put on face can affect your emotion. In other words, even a deliberate smile will help people to feel better.


In July 1989, the New York Times introduced new research findings in this area: the expressions made on people's faces will affect emotions and produce moods that match those expressions. If you make a sad face, your mood will be sad. If you make a happy face, your mood will also be happy.


Simple right?



This all sounds incredible, but it is indeed supported by psychological research results. In fact, research on facial expressions and emotions has a long history. More than 100 years ago, Darwin and James proposed that emotions can be influenced by behaviors, especially facial expressions. Then, in the 70s and 80s, research showed that the expression on the human face can affect heart rate and skin temperature! For example, if you make a fearful expression, your heart beats faster and your skin temperature rises.


Among modern researchers in the field, Dr. Paul Ekman is a relatively famous one. In 2009, he was named by the Times as one of the 100 people who hugely influenced the world. One video online revealed an experiment with research subjects which I found to be quite interesting. The instructions he gave pertained only to movements of the facial muscles on the face, such as drooping eyebrows, eyes widening or squinting, moving lips, etc. After meeting the requirements, the subject holds the expression to the camera for a few seconds. At this point, the person being tested does not see what expression they put on their face. They were interviewed about the feelings, and they can describe the same emotions that would be represented by that facial expression.


In 1998, there were further research findings. When experimenters imitated the expressions on the pictures they saw, they produced the corresponding emotions Moreover, if this person could see his own expression, it was easier to produce this corresponding emotion! For example, if you make a cheerful expression in the mirror, your mood will be better influenced. Conversely, if you cry and mourn in the mirror, after a while your emotions will become depressed.


Now I know that smiling in the mirror can help me have a happy mood. But this can be no ordinary smile. To really master the magic, you must put on a Duchenne smile in the mirror!


The "Duchenne smile" is a happy smile. It requires the cheek muscles and eye contours to contract simultaneously. However, what is important is the muscles of the eye contour. If it is only cheeks and mouth corners, it is likely to be considered a fake smile. The point is whether the muscles of the eyes are also involved. In addition to improving your emotions, there are many other benefits to planting a big ‘ol Duchenne smile on your face. These include reducing depression and stress, making others feel you are more trustworthy and sincere, increasing persuasion, improving interpersonal relationships, and finding more fun in life.


Wow.


This discovery was a surprise to me! 2020 is almost half gone. There is so much changing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While the future of mankind seems so uncertain it is especially necessary for us to have some method to adjust our emotions. Regardless of whether my two master coach mentors were deliberate about putting a bright smile on their faces, I plan to form more Duchenne smiles on my face in future.


Want to try one with me?



photo sources: pexels.com


References:


Comments

©2020 by Sherman Coach. 

bottom of page