17 Dec 2025 · 2 min
Brian Johnson explains how forcing a smile, even by holding a pen between your teeth, can actually increase happiness. The finding shows feelings follow behaviors, not the other way around, so shifting your posture and facial expressions can shift your mood.
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Hi, this is Brian. Welcome back to another Optimize plus one very exciting day.
We have a prop today.
Get this. Scientists can bring people into a lab and have them hold a pen in their mouths in one of two different ways to elicit two very different outcomes. One group comes in and holds a pen between their lips like that. The other group holds the pen between their teeth like that. Try it and feel the difference. And guess what? The group that holds the pen between their teeth, which you may notice creates a sort of smile, is happier. At the end of the experiment, the than people who hold the pen between their lips, which you may notice creates a sort of frown. It's kind of nuts. How could something that simple lead to a significant change in well being? Well, as we've discussed many times, feelings follow behaviors. And even something as mundane as unknowingly moving your happiness muscles into the shape of a smile can make you feel better. The moral of the story? Work today with a pen between your teeth? Not really. But do remember that feelings follow behavior. The little things you do matter.
Stand up tall.
Act the way you'd act if you were feeling great, even if you're not feeling great. And shockingly, you'll find that your feelings follow that behavior more than you may have initially believed possible. And smile more today. It's kind of weird to feel how quickly your whole mood can soften and elevate. And when you shift from a serious or negative facial expression to a simple soft smile. Try it right now. Plus one smile. Plus one smile. Plus one smile.
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