text: why do i smile when i have nothing to smile about? why is this? i'm still smiling even when people are dumping massive amounts of crap on me. the only time i'm not smiling is when i'm really pissed. some people smile when they are nervous or when they don't want people to know how they're really feeling inside. maybe you smile rather than show that someone has really pissed you off. smiling might make them think that what they say or do really has no effect on you.