Smiling unnecessarily

[InbetweenDreams]

The idea of smiling and losing friends because of it seems very unusual to me. That's why I ask about what the cultural norms are where you're at. Then again, I suppose you would have to understand American culture to make a comparison. If I were basing your experience from an American perspective, I'd say your "friend" is more insecure than you are.

Understand that typically smiling because you're nervous is almost like 2nd nature that you'll do it. I'm not saying you can't learn to not smile when you're nervous or shy, but it is difficult.

I think the best way to deal with it is to just explain to them that you sometimes smile when you're nervous, perhaps if they understand why you're smiling it would make it better? But if people don't want to be friends because of that I don't think they were your friends to begin with. Then again, my conclusions on this might be way off simply not understanding how things are in your part of the world. I think most people here would probably gloss over it and would probably pick up on your shyness more so than you smiling.

So in short, I think it is not worth trying to change every nuance about yourself that you feel might bother others. I mean I could understand if you chewed loudly and with your mouth open, but we're talking about smiling because you're nervous/shy.