Okay, so yesterday I bumped into this “dejected expression” thing in the NYT crossword. Got me thinking, what’s the deal with that? Why are people so hung up on sad faces?
First thing I did was a quick search online. Turns out, “turn that frown upside down” is like the oldest trick in the book. Parents say it to their kids, and everyone’s heard of it. They say it means to smile, and the answer to the NYT crossword puzzle is “SMILE.”
Then, I started digging deeper. I found a bunch of articles about how to be happier. I thought it was just about smiling more, but there was more to it. One piece talked about how facial expressions are a “one-way street” controlled by the brain. But, like, is that really true? Can’t we fake a smile and actually start feeling better?
So I decided to try it out myself. I spent the whole day forcing myself to smile, even when I didn’t feel like it. Walking down the street, doing the dishes, even when I stubbed my toe. It felt weird at first, kinda like wearing someone else’s shoes. But you know what? It actually started working!
- Walk around with a smile plastered on my face.
- Smile while doing the most mundane tasks like a lunatic.
- Keep smiling even when things went wrong, like when I spilled coffee all over my white shirt.
By the end of the day, I wasn’t exactly bouncing off the walls, but I definitely felt lighter. Like a weight had been lifted. It’s crazy how something so simple could make a difference.
Key Learnings
I guess there’s some truth to that old saying. It’s not just about plastering a fake smile on your face. It’s like, your body and your mind are connected. And sometimes, you gotta trick your brain into feeling happy. I think the brain will know it.
Anyway, it was a fun little experiment. Might not work for everyone, but it’s definitely worth a shot if you’re feeling down in the dumps. Go ahead, turn that frown upside down! You might be surprised.
