Learning how to smile

[marley86]

I know this sounds crazy, but I think I have been giving people the wrong vibe about myself, basically, my whole life. Today, I was training, for yet another serving job, and they failed me because I wasn't smiling enough. I am not unhappy or anything, but I seem to look p*ssed off, or too serious, for some reason. I looked in front of the mirror, and noticed that keeping my mouth closed, makes me look unhappy. Trying to keep my mouth opened is helping a lot, but does anybody else have suggestions? I just don't know what my face looks like when I am doing it, and I think that is a lot of the problem. When I was in high school, some kid use to call me a clown because I was smiling too much. I think after that it made me self-conscious. I just need to find a happy medium-I don't want to look p*ssed off but I don't want to look like a clown either. I want it to look natural.

[Cool-Relax]

I'm the same way. But everyone points it out to me, so I'm really aware of it.

If you want it to look real, you have to think of something that makes you happy. Even if you're not actually smiling, it will lighten up your face. Sometimes, I just randomly tell myself that I'm not p*ssed off, haha. I don't know if it's because of how stupid it is to say that to yourself, or the fact that I'm reminding myself that I shouldn't look mad, but it works for me.

[dragonfli786351]

same problem. my natural state looks mad all the time apparently. I've had people think that I hated them for no reason. But whatever I smile when I'm happy and frown when I'm mad. Be yourself, except at work, serving you have to be insanely nice to people, so smile a lot and be overly nice and plesant.

[hunglowman4you]

awesome question you have created ... I have been thinking this about myself for a long time... so I guess how I have been dealing with this is ... whiting my teeth more... and getting my teeth cealned more... and having my teeth in tip top shape... ya know? I already had braces 2 times in my life... my teeth look okay to good (I think) but the shape of my smile I think does not look good... hmmmm. please let me know is it your teeth, shape of mouth or ? thkx

[marley86]

I don't think it has anything to do with my teeth. I use to have braces for the longest time, so maybe I still haven't gotten use to the way my mouth falls without them after all these years. Who knows, I just know I need to work on it.

[erockc31]

I get this crap all the time. I would just smile for the interview and be yourself the rest of the time. Screw everyone else if they think you're p*ssed. Smile when you actually feel it.

[marley86]

I am done with my training, and I am finally a server. My managers keep getting on to me about my smiling, and I really hate it. I wouldn't serve if I could find another job that paid more, because I have ALWAYS hated it.

[hearts_TI]

Yeah , I have the exact same problem people will come up to me and ask me if I'm mad or something or if I'm alright.