--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we smile, the muscles around our…" description: "\"When we smile, the muscles around our mouth are stretched and relaxed, just like doing yoga. Smiling is mouth yoga. We release the tension from our fac..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ff/nhat-hanh-515_ambassadors_when-we-smile-the-muscles-around-our-mou_352235.jpg" --- # When we smile, the muscles around our mouth are stretched… ![“When we smile, the muscles around our mouth are stretched and relaxed, just like doing yoga. Smiling is mouth yoga. We release the tension from our face as we smile. Others who run into us notice it, even strangers, and are likely to smile back. It is a wonderful chain reaction that we can…” quote by Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ff/nhat-hanh-515_ambassadors_when-we-smile-the-muscles-around-our-mou_352235.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ff/nhat-hanh-515_ambassadors_when-we-smile-the-muscles-around-our-mou_352235.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ff/nhat-hanh-515_ambassadors_when-we-smile-the-muscles-around-our-mou_352235.jpg) > “When we smile, the muscles around our mouth are stretched and relaxed, just like doing yoga. Smiling is mouth yoga. We release the tension from our face as we smile. Others who run into us notice it, even strangers, and are likely to smile back. It is a wonderful chain reaction that we can initiate, touching the joy in anyone we encounter. Smiling is an ambassador of goodwill.” [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Smiling relaxes facial muscles, creates a positive feedback loop, and spreads goodwill to others. **In simple terms:** Smiling relaxes and spreads joy. Key Takeaway Smile to lift your mood and others'. Themes wellness social connection positivity Mood cheerful uplifting Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - daily interactions - customer service - public speaking - teaching - therapy Key Concepts mind-body integration contagious emotions Questions to Reflect On - How can you make smiling feel authentic? - What situations benefit most from a smile? A Different Perspective Smiles may feel forced if not genuine. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambassadors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambassadors/) [Chain reactions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chain-reactions/) [Chains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chains/) [Encounters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encounters/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Goodwill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodwill/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Smile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smile/) [Smiling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smiling/) [Stranger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stranger/) [Tension](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tension/) [Touching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/touching/) [Wonderful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonderful/) [Yoga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yoga/) ## Related quotes > [When someone says something bad to you, dont cry. It takes 49 muscles to cry,12 muscles to smile but only 6 muscles to LIFTYOUR MIDDLE FINGER.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-someone-says-something-bad-to-you-dont-cry-it-takes-49-muscles/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Mine is not a smiling face. Strangers on the street always say, Smile! But my muscles do not naturally go there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-thayer-hamann/mine-is-not-a-smiling-face-strangers-on-the-street-always-say-smile/) [Hilary Thayer Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-thayer-hamann/) > [“A smile is made up of 1% muscles and 99% happiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/a-smile-is-made-up-of-1-muscles-and-99-happiness/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [When ever Someone Hurts you ,...Dont Cry... Remember It takes 49 Muscles to cry And 12 Muscles to Smile But Only 5 Muscles to give a slap !!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tinku-razoria/when-ever-someone-hurts-you-dont-cry-remember-it-takes-49-muscles-to/) [Tinku Razoria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tinku-razoria/) > [My pen and paper causes a chain reaction, to get your brain relaxing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eminem/my-pen-and-paper-causes-a-chain-reaction-to-get-your-brain-relaxing/) [Eminem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eminem/) > [The mood in the market is one of a high level of caution. When you get some selling coming in, it's almost like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-goldman/the-mood-in-the-market-is-one-of-a-high-level-of-caution-when-you-get/) [Albert Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-goldman/) > [I have this theory that if one person can go out of their way to show compassion then it will start a chain reaction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-scott/i-have-this-theory-that-if-one-person-can-go-out-of-their-way-to-show-2/) [Rachel Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-scott/) > [Before it's too late, and time is running out, let us turn from trust in the chain reactions of exploding atoms to faith of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cushing/before-it-s-too-late-and-time-is-running-out-let-us-turn-from-trust/) Richard Cushing > [As my body lay dead on that stretcher (he later recovered from being struck by lightning attracted by his cell phone), I was reliving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dannion-brinkley/as-my-body-lay-dead-on-that-stretcher-he-later-recovered-from-being/) [Dannion Brinkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dannion-brinkley/) > [The thought "It's impossible" sets off a chain reaction of other thoughts to prove you're right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-j-schwartz/the-thought-it-s-impossible-sets-off-a-chain-reaction-of-other/) [David J. Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-j-schwartz/) > [Heaven help a timid child in a trendy tide He really doesn't know That his heart's being taken for a ride Doing what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-heard/heaven-help-a-timid-child-in-a-trendy-tide-he-really-doesn-t-know/) [Mark Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-heard/) > [“They began by controlling books of cartoons and then detective books and, of course, films, one way or another, one group or another, political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/they-began-by-controlling-books-of-cartoons-and-then-detective-books/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Scientists say every action initiates an equal and opposite reaction. I say that's just the start. I say every action initiates a most unequal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/scientists-say-every-action-initiates-an-equal-and-opposite-reaction/) [Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) > [Not causing harm requires staying awake. Part of being awake is slowing down enough to notice what we say and do. The more we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/not-causing-harm-requires-staying-awake-part-of-being-awake-is/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [The sad part is that all we're trying to do is not feel that underlying uneasiness. The sadder part is that we proceed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/the-sad-part-is-that-all-we-re-trying-to-do-is-not-feel-that/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) ## More by Nhat Hanh > [Happiness is the cessation of suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/happiness-is-the-cessation-of-suffering/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [We need enlightenment, not just individually but collectively, to save the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/we-need-enlightenment-not-just-individually-but-collectively-to-save/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [If you really know how to live, what better way to start the day than with a smile?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-you-really-know-how-to-live-what-better-way-to-start-the-day-than/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Contemplating the bowl, it is possible to see the interdependent elements which give rise to the bowl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/contemplating-the-bowl-it-is-possible-to-see-the-interdependent/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Our joy, peace and happiness depend very much on our practice of recognizing and transforming habit energies. There are positive habit energies that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/our-joy-peace-and-happiness-depend-very-much-on-our-practice-of/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [I vow to live fully in each moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/i-vow-to-live-fully-in-each-moment/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Silence is something that comes from your heart, not from outside. Silence doesn't mean not talking and not doing things; it means that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/silence-is-something-that-comes-from-your-heart-not-from-outside/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Freedom is the real foundation of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/freedom-is-the-real-foundation-of-happiness/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Wisdom is a living stream, not an icon to be preserved in a museum. Only when a practitioner finds the spring of wisdom in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/wisdom-is-a-living-stream-not-an-icon-to-be-preserved-in-a-museum/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [We may think of peace as the absence of war, that if the great powers would reduce their weapons arsenals, we could have peace.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/we-may-think-of-peace-as-the-absence-of-war-that-if-the-great-powers/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [If you are capable of brushing your teeth in mindfulness, then you will be able to enjoy the time when you take a shower,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-you-are-capable-of-brushing-your-teeth-in-mindfulness-then-you/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [If I am incapable of washing dishes joyfully, if I want to finish them quickly so I can go and have dessert, I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-i-am-incapable-of-washing-dishes-joyfully-if-i-want-to-finish-them/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [When we have anger in us, we suffer. When we have discrimination in us, we suffer. When we have the complex of superiority, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/when-we-have-anger-in-us-we-suffer-when-we-have-discrimination-in-us/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Every morning, when we wake up, we have twenty-four brand-new hours to live. What a precious gift! We have the capacity to live in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/every-morning-when-we-wake-up-we-have-twenty-four-brand-new-hours-to/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [It is best if we do not listen to or look at the person whom we consider to be the cause of our anger.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/it-is-best-if-we-do-not-listen-to-or-look-at-the-person-whom-we/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) [Explore all 507 Nhat Hanh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) ## More Ambassadors quotes > [I am formally accountable to the steering board of the PIC, and I meet with nine ambassadors from the PIC every week. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-ashdown/i-am-formally-accountable-to-the-steering-board-of-the-pic-and-i-meet/) [Paddy Ashdown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-ashdown/) > [Dan Coats, retiring senator from Indiana, a mild-mannered man, a former United States ambassador to Germany, former congressman, said of Ted Cruz he's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/dan-coats-retiring-senator-from-indiana-a-mild-mannered-man-a-former/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [I know at first hand how the impact of being bullied as a teenager can quite literally last a lifetime and I thought that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-feehily/i-know-at-first-hand-how-the-impact-of-being-bullied-as-a-teenager/) Mark Feehily > [I'm the lead singer of the Beach Boys and an ambassador of this amazing music that touched a generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-love/i-m-the-lead-singer-of-the-beach-boys-and-an-ambassador-of-this/) [Mike Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-love/) > [Kate Otto, like so many in her generation, is committed to being a good global citizen and doing her part to make the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-veneman/kate-otto-like-so-many-in-her-generation-is-committed-to-being-a-good/) [Ann Veneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-veneman/) > [What would you do if you were President, and, on the first day of May, the Russian Ambassador presented you with a beautiful cake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-c-fields/what-would-you-do-if-you-were-president-and-on-the-first-day-of-may/) [W. 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