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Excercising my "smile muscles"

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SteelMaiden
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25 Sep 2014, 3:22 pm

Ok. Although I very rarely smile (haven't done it for several weeks now), I do feel happy at least once a day. Although schizophrenia gives me flattened affect, I still experience enjoyment etc.


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NotaHero
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25 Sep 2014, 5:21 pm

LupaLuna wrote:
AmethystRose wrote:
SteelMaiden wrote:
LupaLuna wrote:
First I wanna tell everybody out there that don't waste your time trying to exercising your so-called "smile" muscles. There's nothing wrong with them. Your ability to smile as well as other facial expressions are linked "directly" to your emotions. If you feel happy and joyful. You will have no problem putting on a perfect smile. Trying to fake a smile or other facial expressions is a lot like trying to controlling your heart rate. It's possible, but damn difficult. Besides, I don't like faking emotions anyways, and why should we. It make me feel dirty and guilty anyways.


Well said.


I disagree with this completely.
My muscles ARE weak; they are weak from childhood misery. I feel happy emotions now, but because I never used to smile, my smiling muscles ARE weak. They don't express what I feel, though I'm getting there.


Well then stay happier more often so those muscles get stronger. Besides. being happier is good for your overall health anyways.

I've recently massively improved my balance and flexibility which were poor and have improved my strength (which was okay) because I have worked harder on technique, muscle memory and form. From this I believe that I never really learnt to imitate others, just to do something that was close to it.

For me, I can see this being true with emotional expressions. It's all just muscle movement, but if you don't work the right muscles than repeatedly smiling and being happy won't work the right muscles. If you teach the body to do this first then when you are happy you will eventually use the right muscles naturally and then have a more obvious smile and don't get misread as much by others and all the awkward situations that brings.



LupaLuna
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25 Sep 2014, 8:18 pm

NotaHero wrote:
LupaLuna wrote:
AmethystRose wrote:
SteelMaiden wrote:
LupaLuna wrote:
First I wanna tell everybody out there that don't waste your time trying to exercising your so-called "smile" muscles. There's nothing wrong with them. Your ability to smile as well as other facial expressions are linked "directly" to your emotions. If you feel happy and joyful. You will have no problem putting on a perfect smile. Trying to fake a smile or other facial expressions is a lot like trying to controlling your heart rate. It's possible, but damn difficult. Besides, I don't like faking emotions anyways, and why should we. It make me feel dirty and guilty anyways.


Well said.


I disagree with this completely.
My muscles ARE weak; they are weak from childhood misery. I feel happy emotions now, but because I never used to smile, my smiling muscles ARE weak. They don't express what I feel, though I'm getting there.


Well then stay happier more often so those muscles get stronger. Besides. being happier is good for your overall health anyways.

I've recently massively improved my balance and flexibility which were poor and have improved my strength (which was okay) because I have worked harder on technique, muscle memory and form. From this I believe that I never really learnt to imitate others, just to do something that was close to it.

For me, I can see this being true with emotional expressions. It's all just muscle movement, but if you don't work the right muscles than repeatedly smiling and being happy won't work the right muscles. If you teach the body to do this first then when you are happy you will eventually use the right muscles naturally and then have a more obvious smile and don't get misread as much by others and all the awkward situations that brings.


I could never fake a smile no matter how hard I try. Any time I try it. people think it looks weird and disturbing. Plus for me, it just doesn't feel right. On the other hand, If I am truly happy. people tell me that I put on a perfect smile and the happier I feel, the prettier the smile. and it's all automatic. I don't even have to think about it. All those god-damn NT's and their fake persona's. No wonder why it's next to imposable to read body language. It's nothing but a bunch of lies. The fact is. If I am not happy, I don't smile and that's nothing to be ashamed of.