Chewing Pencil

I just read a study 'Inhibiting and Facilitating Conditions of the Human Smile' by F. Strack that demonstrates the power of forced behavior on feeling.

Their study involved getting people to hold a pencil in their mouth. One group held the pencil between their teeth and the other, held it between their lips.

The two groups were then shown the same stimulus and their emotions were recorded.

The group that held the pencil between their teeth felt happier than those who held it between their lips.

The reason why can be experienced by you right now. If you hold a pencil in your teeth, you will feel your face being forced in to a smile and it is this fact that triggers a more cheerful response. Holding a pencil on your lips, forces a frown.

Now here's the amazing part as quoted from the study "...this increase in happiness does not drain away the moment you cease smiling. It lingers on, affecting many aspects of your behavior, including interacting with others in a more positive way, and being more likely to remember happy life events."

Give it a try.