It all started with Aware, the meditation app. The guide instructed me, at the beginning of every session and with a very soothing voice, to “keep a half-smile”. Of course, I couldn’t keep it up throughout the whole session but whenever I remembered, I gently smiled. It felt good.

It has been proven that smiling activates a range of positive reactions in our bodies.

The main result of smiling is triggering the release of neurotransmitters (dopamine, endorphins and serotonin) that decrease stress, increase relaxation, lower the blood rate and blood pressure.

While endorphins act as a natural pain reliever, serotonin serves as a mood lifter or antidepressant.

And dopamine? Well, among other things, it tells the brain that whatever it just experienced is worth getting more of.