Picture this: You’re rushing through the grocery store, mentally checking off your list, when the cashier looks up and says, “I love that jacket—that color really suits you!” Suddenly, your frazzled energy shifts. You stand a little taller. You catch yourself smiling in the parking lot. That’s the ripple effect of a single moment of kindness.

When was the last time you made someone smile? Making someone smile not only makes the other person feel good, but it also makes you feel good, too!

Think about how great it would feel if you were the reason someone – a different person each day – smiled every single day. Wouldn’t that be amazing?

Imagine if everyone strived to make at least one other person smile every day. Just think about how much joy and happiness the world would be filled with!

The Power of a Smile

Smiling is one of the simplest yet most powerful things you can do to brighten your day and the days of those around you.

The act of smiling activates the muscles in your face responsible for producing a smile, which then sends signals to the brain that tell you to feel happy. So not only does smiling make you look happier, but it also makes you feel happier!

A single smile can:

Lift your mood
Reduce stress
Lower blood pressure
Boost your immune system
Relieve pain (by releasing endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers)

Smiling is also contagious. When you see someone with a huge smile on their face, it’s hard not to smile too. This happens because of mirror neurons in your brain—specialized cells that respond when you observe someone else’s emotions, automatically triggering similar feelings in yourself. It’s why watching someone laugh makes you want to laugh, and why one person’s smile can brighten an entire room.

Try it. Smile at the next person you see and watch their face light up.

Why It’s Important to Make Others Smile

Everyone has bad days. Sometimes, when everything feels wrong, all someone needs is a smile from someone else to turn their day around.

You’ve probably experienced a similar situation before. You’re tired, grumpy, and feeling like the world is against you, but then someone does something nice for you or even smiles at you, and suddenly your day doesn’t seem so bad anymore.

By making an effort to put a smile on somebody else’s face, you may find that you’re able to make your own day better. There’s a psychological principle at work here: when we give to others, we receive an emotional boost in return. Each kind act creates a chain reaction—the person you helped feels valued, you feel purposeful, and both of you carry that positive energy forward into other interactions.

Research in behavioral science shows that performing acts of kindness reduces depression and anxiety while boosting feelings of connection and well-being. When you do something kind for someone else, your brain releases feel-good chemicals like serotonin and oxytocin. Making others smile doesn’t just brighten their day; it’s actually a powerful tool for improving your own mental health.

Over time, these small moments compound. A smile today might seem minor, but repeated acts of kindness shape how we see ourselves and how others experience the world. You become someone who lifts others up, and that identity becomes self-reinforcing. It’s a win-win for everyone involved!

Why should you try to make others smile?

It will make you feel good to make others happy.
It’s easy and only takes a few seconds.
It could completely change somebody’s day for the better.
It makes the world a happier place.

How to Be the Reason Someone Smiles Today

Now that you know all about the benefits of making others smile, you might be wondering how to do it.

Not sure where to begin? Try this:

Smile at the next three people you see today. That’s it. No agenda, no expectations—just three genuine smiles. Notice how it feels. You might be surprised at how this tiny experiment shifts your own mood and the energy you receive in return.

Here are some ideas:

Stranger or Acquaintance

Smile at Them

Again, smiling is contagious. If you smile at someone, they will most likely smile back. It’s a simple way to make somebody’s day and takes almost no effort on your part.

Say Hello

Offer a friendly greeting as you walk past someone on the street. A simple ‘Good morning!’ or even just a sign of acknowledgment like a nod and eye contact can remind someone they’re seen.

Give Them a Compliment

Give a simple but genuine compliment. Notice something specific: “That’s a beautiful scarf—the color really suits you” feels more genuine than generic compliments. Or try, “I love your shoes!” or “You have a beautiful smile.” It just takes a few words to make someone feel good.

Hold the Door Open for Them

If you’re entering or leaving a building at the same time as someone else, hold the door open for them. It’s a simple gesture that can make a big difference.

smiling people opening the door and waving hello

Let Them Go Ahead of You in Line

If you’re in line at a store, and you see that the person behind you only has a few items, offer to let them go ahead of you. You might be in a hurry, too, but this small sacrifice can transform someone else’s stressful day.

Buy Them a Cup of Coffee or Tea

Start a chain reaction of kindness by buying the person behind you their morning drink. It’s a kind act that they’re sure to remember and may even pay forward themselves.

Say Please and Thank You for the Things That They Do

It’s always polite to say please and thank you, but it can mean even more when it comes from a stranger. If somebody does something nice for you, be sure to express your gratitude. Make eye contact and say ‘thank you’ to the barista, the mail carrier, the office receptionist, and the person who held the elevator. These small acknowledgments matter more than you think.

Leave a Positive Note for Them

Take the time to leave a good review online for a business you frequent or write a positive comment on somebody’s blog post. You never know when your words of encouragement could brighten somebody’s day.

Friend or Family Member

Make Them Laugh

Tell them a joke, ask funny questions, or watch a comedy together to get some laughs. Laughter is a great way to bond with others and offers a host of benefits for your health.

Do Something Nice for Them Without Being Asked

Whatever you can do to make their life a bit better, do that. Do a chore for them that they hate, tidy up an area that has been bugging them, or get them their favorite comfort food when they’re feeling down. Little things can mean a lot.

Send Them a Handwritten Letter or Card

With everything being digital these days, getting something in the mail that’s handwritten is a really special treat. Take the time to let your friends and family know how much they mean to you with a thoughtful letter or card.

Give Them a Hug

Sometimes, all someone needs is a hug. Whether they’re going through a tough time or just having a bad day, a hug can make all the difference.

Give Them Your Undivided Attention

In our fast-paced, always-connected world, it can be hard to focus on the people in front of us. Next time you’re talking to a friend or family member, put away your phone and give them your full attention.

Help Them Out With Something

If someone is struggling with something, offer to help. Whether it’s watching their kids so they can have a break or helping them move to a new house, your assistance will be very much appreciated.

Tell Them How Much You Appreciate Them

It’s easy to take the people in our lives for granted, but it’s important to let them know how much we appreciate them. Whether you say it out loud, write it in a card, or post it on social media, take a moment to let the people in your life know how grateful you are for them.

Send an Uplifting Text or Email if They’re Having a Tough Day

If you know someone who’s having a tough day, send them a text or email to let them know you’re thinking of them and that things will get better. A little bit of encouragement can go a long way.

Surprise Them With a Small Gift

A small gift can make someone’s day. It doesn’t have to be anything big or expensive – just a gift to say that you’re thinking of them! It could be a book, a mug, a piece of art, a trinket, or anything else you know they’d like. Online shopping makes it easy to send a surprise gift – all you need to know is their address!

woman handing an elderly woman some flowers

Remember Their Birthdays and Special Occasions and Reach Out With Well-Wishes

Birthdays and other special occasions are great opportunities to let your friends and family know how much you care about them. Whether you call them, send them a card, or post on their social media, take a moment to reach out with a sweet birthday message to wish them the best.

Express Your Love

Telling someone you love them is a meaningful act of devotion that enriches relationships. Regularly express love to the important people in your life – your partner, family, friends, and even your dog.

Don’t be shy about putting your feelings into words. No matter how you choose to express it, telling loved ones they are cherished will be remembered and returned.

Final Thoughts

This article serves as a great reminder that small acts of kindness can have a big impact. It doesn’t take much to make someone smile or brighten their day. By choosing kindness and with a bit of thoughtfulness and effort, you can be the reason someone smiles today.

As Roy T. Bennett says, “Be the reason someone smiles. Be the reason someone feels loved and believes in the goodness in people.”

You can be the reason every day. Why not start today?

Do Happy: Daily Happier Habits App

Want to become a happier and kinder person?

Check out the Do Happy: Daily Happier Habits App, which is filled with features to help you boost your mood, spread positivity, and make the world a better place.

With the Do Happy App, it’s easier than ever to connect with your loved ones and make them feel loved. You can even keep track of their birthdays and other important occasions, so you never miss another chance to reach out.

The app also motivates you to perform kind acts within your local community and helps you keep track of all the good you’re doing in the world. As you use the app, it becomes a memory book of all the happiness and kindness you’ve spread.

What are you waiting for? Start living your best life and be the reason someone smiles today! 🙂

Visit the App Store and download the Do Happy App for a free 7-day trial!