When you smile, you’re sending a message that you’re friendly and approachable. That’s why smiling more often will enhance your relationships with others.

But smiling has additional benefits that you probably aren’t aware of. In addition to improving the way you get along with others, it’s also good for your health.

Smile: It’s Good for You

Believe it or not, just by smiling you cause your body to release hormones including dopamine, which increases feelings of happiness, and serotonin, which contributes to your mood and wellbeing. This also helps relieve stress. In addition to making you feel better, it will also improve your health.

Here’s the really interesting part — your smile doesn’t even have to be sincere to have a salutary effect on your health. According to Dr. Steven Finkel, “even forcing a fake smile can legitimately reduce stress and lower your heart rate.”

As smiling becomes a habit, the long-term benefits are even more impressive. Over time, it can help you overcome “the brain’s natural tendency to think negatively.” You can even “end up rewiring your brain” and develop a more positive attitude overall.

Spread Positive Feelings

It’s often been said that smiling is contagious, and now there’s scientific proof. When you smile at the people you see, almost half of them will smile back at you.

When you smile, you’re telling people that you’re not afraid and you’re open to new experiences. This makes people more likely to trust you and want to be around you.

Smiling also conveys a sense of confidence and competence in what you’re doing. A survey conducted by Penn State University found that service employees who smile more often were rated as being both friendlier and more effective than employees who smile less often.

Improve the Way People See You

The simple act of smiling more often will have a profound effect on the way people feel about you. One study found that “both men and women increased their attractiveness by smiling.” Another study demonstrates how smiling makes you look “around 3 years younger on average.”

By enhancing the way others see you, smiling can have a strong impact on your personal and professional life. People who smile more often are “likely to earn more money” over the course of their career.