“A smile costs nothing, but creates much. It enriches those who receive, without impoverishing those who give. It happens in a flash and the memory of it sometimes lasts forever.” – Dale Carnegie
Most of us often tend to think of smiling as the result of a positive event or mood and mainly it is. But research has proven that the simple act of smiling, in and of itself, can be the catalyst for joy. And that means that even if you have no apparent reason for it, when you smile you create or stimulate joy inside you. The apparently simple act of smiling can bring about so many wonderful things, ranging from an improved mood to better relationship and even to more productivity. The truth is that smiling is one of those things in life that is completely a win-win situation. You have absolutely nothing to lose by smiling, and everything to gain. And, what’s more, it is completely free, easily accessible and always available.
The simple act of smiling does far more than just make you look friendly – it can change your life and the lives of those around you. The benefits of smiling are too numerous to mention but here are 6 reasons why you should do it more often and I hope that by the time you’re done reading this piece, the corners of your mouth will be turned upwards in a smile:
1. Smiling makes you happy (even when you’re not feeling it yet) and you’ll feel better, emotionally and physically
Back in 1872, Darwin said that making changes in our facial expressions can shift our emotional experience, something he called facial feedback response theory. Psychological research has validated Darwin’s assertion that expressions are not just mere results of our moods, but that our expressions actually influence our moods. It turns out that because of the way our mind is connected to our body, the simple act of smiling sends a message to your brain that you’re happy. And when that happens, and you’re happy, your body pumps out all kinds of feel-good endorphins. This reaction has been studied since the 1980s and has been proven a number of times. Also, research by Tara Kraft and Sarah Pressman at the University of Kansas demonstrated that smiling can alter our stress response by slowing down the heart rate and decreasing perceived levels of stress regardless of whether the person actually feels happy or not. So instead of waiting for something to happen around you to make you happy, take the power into your own hands and smile your way to a better mood.
And, the next time you feel sad or upset, try smiling. It just might make your body—and therefore you—feel better.
2. Smiling can make others happy.
Mother Teresa said “Every time you smile at someone, it is a gift to that person, a beautiful thing” she was right. Remember the famous song by Louis Armstrong? “When you’re smilin’, the whole world smiles with you.”. Actually it is true. Maybe not the whole world all the time, but most of it will smile with you.
A study conducted by Hewlett Packard found that seeing another’s smile stimulated the heart and brain more so than eating chocolate, having sex, or receiving money. Actually, according to The British Dental Health Foundation, a loving smile can produce the same emotional response as eating 2,000 chocolate bars! So you may want to rethink saying thank you with chocolates. Just smile instead.
Research shows that smiling is contagious. Ever been around someone who just had something fantastic happen to him or her? Isn’t it almost impossible not to feel good, too? Studies show that something as simple as seeing a friend smile can activate the muscles in your face to make that same expression, without you even being aware that you are doing it.
Truly it is hard to frown when someone else is smiling.
3. Smiling melts hearts and makes you more attractive.
Several studies have found that a long smile is seen as more authentic, and is perceived as more attractive, and trustworthy. Smiling puts people at ease and makes you appear more approachable.
Smiling is a natural facelift! It plumps up the cells in your skin and gives you a radiant glow
In a study published in the December 2009 issue of Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, people looked at full-body photographs of 123 people they had never met. The people in the photos had one of two expressions: neutral (think your passport photo) or a smile. And guess what? When observers saw the photos of smiling people, they were more likely to think that the person in the photo was likeable, confident, conscientious and stable.
Another study conducted by Orbit Complete found that 70 percent of people find women more attractive when they are smiling than when they are wearing makeup. Makes you wonder why we spend so much time and money on makeups and cosmetic surgeries when we can smile for free.
4) Smiling boosts your immune system and helps you reduce stress
Smiling changes the chemistry in your body. Numerous medical studies have found smiling to lower heart rate, steady breathing and relax the body, which results in a stronger immune system.
Smiling is the easiest way to reduce stress and anxiety as well as possibly extend your lifespan. The next time you’re stressed about anything, don’t freak out. Take a few deep breaths and smile! Smiling may help to reduce symptoms associated with anxiety. When that smile signals to your brain that you’re feeling happy (even though you’re not really feeling happy…yet), your body will usually slow its breathing and heart rate. A research by Kraft and Pressman , indicates that smiling may improve heart health by decreasing heart rate after stressful events. So, adding smiling to your health regime of eating well, getting enough sleep and exercising may just add a few years to your life.
5) You’ll be remembered
If you are smiling, you are three times more likely to be remembered than a person who is displaying negative or neutral features.
6) Smiling just feels good.
Have you ever found that smiling just feels good? Go ahead, smile now. Doesn’t it feel natural? Make you feel happy to be alive? It sure does beat the heck out of a frown.
So the next time you’re feeling down or out of sorts, try a smile. If you can’t find a reason to smile, pop in a funny DVD, read the Sunday comics or call a friend. Heck, you may be able to even read the word smile and feel better. According to research published in Psychological Science, simply reading certain words may also have the same effect. Just like seeing someone else smile makes you smile, reading emotion verbs (like smile, grin, frown, etc.) can also activate specific facial muscles.
Isn’t it time you turn that frown upside down? Now say “cheese!”
