15 Ways to Make People Smile During Tough Times

We face adversity daily, but what makes us rise above the fray and be happy despite difficult circumstances?

In tough times, it’s not uncommon to feel helpless, depressed, or downright downhearted. It’s also not uncommon to feel frustrated, sad, or upset.

So when you’re in one of these negative states, it’s easy to feel as though you’re the only person in the world going through what you’re going through. But this isn’t true.

There are millions of people in a similar situation as you are. And while there’s no telling what life has in store for you, you can still help ease someone else’s pain and perhaps help make someone smile a bit.

This article shares 15 ways to make people smile during challenging times. Some of them work better than others. Some you need to practice, some work immediately, and some require more effort.

Find Something Positive About Everything

We live in a society that is so negative, self-absorbed and wrapped up in the minutiae of our daily lives that we often forget the power of positivity.

Research shows that positive emotions such as happiness, joy, enthusiasm, gratitude, and optimism can be contagious, improving moods and elevating energy.

By intentionally finding something positive about everything we encounter, even during challenging times, we can improve our emotional well-being and help our family, friends, colleagues, and clients feel better.

People sometimes lose their motivation when they are down. But, if you have positive feelings about what you are doing, it can motivate you to keep going.

When you are feeling happy, you can work harder. It’s possible to motivate your parents and family members to try hard. Positive feelings towards your job can motivate you to work. That will help you work harder. You should think that you can be successful.

If you aren’t sure of what you want to do, you should have a goal and set some goals to achieve those. It would help if you believed that you could do it. In this way, you can feel more confident and booming. People who are confident and booming always feel good. 

Say Something Funny

Humor is the single most powerful emotion that people experience. Humor can change the mood, boost productivity, and even heal. And it doesn’t even have to be funny to do all of those things.

According to research, just being around someone laughing can be therapeutic and uplifting. It doesn’t have to be directed at you, either. If there are people around you who are happy and laughing, you’ll get a little boost in your mood.

Have you ever been to a party? I’m sure you’ve noticed that during the party, one person laughs, and everyone else gets into it.

It’s like a wave of energy that spreads throughout the room. Sometimes, that’s precisely what you need to get through a day or to get you going after a rough time.

You can smile and let the mood pass if you don’t know what to say or have nothing funny. You don’t have to try too hard to make people laugh.

People usually know what you are thinking. They’ll soon figure it out if you’re not making people laugh. Don’t worry about making them laugh. Just let it happen. 

Let Them Go With A “Thank You”

This is a straightforward way to show your appreciation. But people who receive a “Thank you for your help” message are far more likely to remember the experience than those who receive nothing.

“Even if you don’t care about this, just send them a quick ‘thank you’ message,” says David Rock. “It’ll make them smile, and you’ll be remembered as the kind person who said thank you.”

Sometimes people will help you, and they won’t even realize that they helped you. Sometimes you will find people who will do things for you you didn’t ask for.

This is a great feeling to have. If you feel like doing something nice for them, send them a ‘Thank you for your help message. This will make them happy. You will be remembered as a great friend.

Offer To Help

This can help to lift people’s moods during a difficult time. Even if they have a terrible day, when you offer to help, you help them feel better about their current situation.

You can help someone having a bad day by offering to help them. Just remember to do this when they ask for help. You should also help others when they need it.

When you are helping others, you help yourself. So it is crucial to take care of yourself first. You can help others by being kind and giving them what they need.

For example, if you see someone who needs food, you can buy some food for them.

If you see someone sad, you can cheer them up with a smile. Many people would like to be helped but are unwilling to help others. So, help others so that you can help yourself.

Send a Thank-You Card

A simple gesture can have a significant impact. Sending a thank-you card during tough times can help bring joy into the recipient’s life.

Giving a thank-you card to someone who has helped you can be adorable. For instance, if you want to thank someone who bought you a present, you could write a thank you note and send it to them.

You could also send a thank-you card to someone who helped you with your homework. If you are feeling grateful, you can write a thank-you letter to a loved one or an important person in your life. This can make their day!

Tell them How You Feel

One of the most important things you can do to make people smile during tough times tells them how you feel about what’s happening. 

If you feel unhappy with the current situation, express yourself and let others know how you feel. If you are sad and disappointed, tell them. This way, they will know that you care.

You might feel embarrassed, but you should tell them, anyway. This will make them happy and relieved. They will feel better knowing that you are thinking about them.

Try to be a positive person, which will be contagious to other people.

Ask About Their Family

When you meet someone new, do they have any siblings? Do they have kids? You might ask about their family. It makes people smile.

I often ask people about their families when I meet them for the first time. Most people enjoy talking about their families. I do this because it makes them feel better and gives me a chance to know them better.  

Offer To Watch Their Children

It’s one of the simplest ways to make someone smile. In times of difficulty, people often look for a way to lift their spirits.

If you’re feeling down, offer to take your friend’s kids to the park, buy them lunch, or watch their children for an hour or two while shopping. It’s a simple and powerful way to brighten a person’s day.

Send Flowers

One of the easiest ways to brighten someone’s day is to send flowers. When you think about it, there’s nothing as cheerful as a bouquet of beautiful flowers.

In a study by the University of Arizona, researchers found that sending people flowers could reduce stress and improve well-being.

Sending a dozen red roses to a colleague passed over for promotion can have a powerful impact on that person’s mood.

If you want to make someone happy, you can buy them flowers. But be careful when you buy them. You don’t want to spend too much money because they might not appreciate it.

You also want to ensure that the person you send flowers to likes flowers. There’s no point buying them a bouquet of carnations if they don’t like carnations.

Be careful when you choose which kind of flower you will buy. 

The next time you think about sending flowers to someone, remember that sending flowers doesn’t have to be expensive.

You can buy some inexpensive flowers at the grocery store. There are many types of flowers that you can choose from. You can also make your bouquet.

You can buy flowers and other items online or visit a florist in your area. 

Compliment Someone

Compliments are a great way to make people smile during tough times. It’s hard to see the good in things when you’re going through a tough time, but when someone pays you a compliment, it can help brighten your day.

Compliments show that the person giving them cares about you and wants to see you happy, even if your current situation is terrible.

So if you know someone who is going through a tough time, pay them a compliment and make them smile.

Pay for the Person Behind You in line 

In these challenging times, we could all use a smile. Paying for the person behind you in line is one small way to make someone’s day a little brighter. Even though it may not seem like much, it can make a difference for someone struggling.

Paying it forward is a great way to make people smile, and it’s also a great way to show your gratitude. If someone has helped you in the past, why not pay it forward and help someone else? It’s definitely worth the effort.

Tell Someone They Look Nice

A straightforward way to make someone smile during tough times is to tell them they look nice. It’s a slight gesture, but it can mean a lot.

A kind word can brighten someone’s day and remind them they are not alone. Sometimes, it takes a smile to make things seem a little better.

When you tell someone that they look nice, it will mean a lot to them. It lets them know you care about them and they are essential to you.

Even though it may not sound like much, it can make someone feel special. It can even cheer someone up. Make sure you are sincere when you tell someone they look nice. If you’re not, it will not make a difference. 

Make a Donation

Giving can change a person’s life forever. Giving makes you feel better inside and gives the person who receives the gift something positive to help them feel better during tough times.

You feel good about yourself when you give. When someone does something nice for you, it’s an automatic reminder to be nice to others. When you give to someone, it’s always a reminder that you should give to someone else.

Giving makes you feel good inside. You are being kind. It’s a selfless act. Giving to someone who is in need makes you feel good about yourself.

You don’t have to be rich to help others. You can give money to someone who is in need. Giving is a great way to make people happy.

You don’t have to worry about whether the person you are helping will return the favor. Just be sure that you’re doing something nice for someone else.

Giving is a great way to make someone feel good. You can also give a gift certificate to someone. When you give a gift certificate, you tell them you think they are unique. Gift certificates are lovely presents.

Send Them a Care Package

Sending a care package may sound like a cheesy tactic, but it’s effective. The key is to send it to the person who needs a little cheering up.

So, think about who could benefit the most rather than sending a care package to a co-worker whose relationship has fallen apart or who is struggling to pay bills.

It’s a good idea to send a care package to someone who might have a difficult time. It can help lift their spirits and improve their mood. Many websites allow you to see who needs a little cheering up. You can also check the phone book or search in the Yellow Pages. 

Call Them by Their Name

One of the best ways to make people smile during tough times is to call them by name. While this seems simple, research shows that how we speak to others changes our mood. Studies show that we treat others better when we use their first name and speak positively about them.

Studies have also shown that we feel connected to others when we hear their name. This may sound surprising, but it makes sense when you think about it. We use our names to identify ourselves; thus, it’s the most potent form of identification. To make someone smile, use their name and speak positively.

It’s straightforward to make someone smile. You must be positive, speak to them using their name, and remember to smile. This may sound simple, but it’s one of the best ways to make people smile during tough times.

Studies show that we treat others better when we use their first name and speak positively about them. Studies have also shown that we feel connected to others when we hear their name. This may sound surprising, but it makes sense when you think about it.

We use our names to identify ourselves; thus, it’s the most potent form of identification. To make someone smile, use their name and speak positively.

Conclusion

When times are tough, it’s important to remember that a smile can go a long way. Following the 15 tips mentioned in this article can make people smile and feel better, even during difficult times. So don’t hesitate, start smiling today!

There is no one right way to cheer people up, but I think these are the ones that have proven most effective. If you have more ideas, share them in the comments.

FAQs | Ways to Make Someone Smile

Reference:

1. HealthyPsych: Turn That Frown Upside Down: How Smiling Gets You Through Tough Times
2. Healthy Living: Lessons in Finding Happiness During Hard Times
3. Greater Good Magazine: How Gratitude Can Help You Through Hard Times