Next time you’re in a bind, grin and bear it. It seems that approach to life will help cut your stress during life’s tricky situations.

A study from the University of Kansas investigated the potential benefits of smiling by looking at how different types of smiling, and the awareness of smiling, affects a person’s ability to recover from episodes of stress.

The team found smiling could indeed influence our physical state, lowering heart rate levels after stressful activities.

The study is in the journal Psychological Science.