You have heard the saying, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. However, there is the other side of the coin where beauty is not subjective, because there are objective standards of beauty. This is why as human beings we are continually on a quest for the secrets of beauty. At an average, many of you will spend ⅓ of your income on improving your looks. This implies that beauty is very important to you, and the society at large. Generally, beautiful people are perceived to receive special attention from their teachers, the legal system and employers. They also tend to make more money, up to 5% more than their “plain-Jane” counterparts. In fact, if you are recognized as “beautiful” or “attractive”, you are viewed as honest, and helpful as opposed to being viewed as rude and unfair.
Still, beauty might be in the eye of the beholder. Our brains are wired to recognize attractiveness that is based on more than just a beautiful face. This is why the first impression you make is very important. People are wired to assess personality traits, emotions, and beauty almost instantaneously.
The importance of your smile
According to a study, your smile was ranked as the number 3 trait important in a partner. The first one was your personality, followed by your sense of humor. Whether you know it or not, your smile affects your life. 94% of those around you will notice your smile before they notice your height, eyes or your figure. You will also be able to make friends easily if you have a nice smile.
A smile might not determine the outcome of your whole life, but as the Vietnamese monk, Thich Nhat Hanh, once said, “Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy”
