What can brighten your day as well as make those around you happy, doesn’t cost anything and is readily accessible and available any time? It’s your smile! Read on to discover how grinning can make you look and feel better and could even improve your social life!
1. Smiling Improves Your Mood
It is physiologically impossible to be angry or be in a bad mood and smile at the same time. Try this simple exercise with a partner: Look the person in the eye, smile and say, “I am so angry.” Amazingly you can’t feel upset at all. The motion creates the emotion and tricks your body into uplifting your spirits. This technique works even if you are alone. If you feel depressed, overwhelmed or out of sorts, simply smile and continue to do so for at least a minute. You will start to feel much more upbeat and positive. When you smile, your body is sending a message to yourself that life is good and keeps you from worrying and being depressed. Interestingly, studies have shown that people suffering from facial paralysis who are unable to smile have been found to suffer more from depression.
2. Smiling Reduces Stress
Recently, researchers at the University of Kansas conducted a study to determine if smiling affected stress levels. They divided participants into three groups: those who maintained neutral facial expressions, those who forced a smile and those who genuinely smiled while performing various uncomfortable tasks. Results showed that those who smiled were less stressed than those who maintained neutral facial expressions. Stress was especially low in those with genuine smiles. Even those who forced a smile during unpleasant tasks seemed to have lower stress levels.
3. Smiling Enhances Health And Wellbeing
Smiling causes your body to release serotonin, natural pain killers and endorphins. Even if you are not happy when you first start smiling, you will be afterward. The more you smile the happier you will feel. In addition, smiling has been found to lowers heart rate and blood pressure.
4. Smiling Promotes Longevity
Studies suggest that people who smile may live longer than people who don’t smile. Wayne State University researchers revealed that the size of a person’s smile definitely mattered when it came to predicting longevity. Based on pictures taken of professional baseball players in 1952, those smiling broadly outlived their somber counterparts by seven years. Even those with partial smiles lived an average of two years longer than their serious cohorts. Another experiment conducted at London University College found that being happy and cheerful could reduce your risk of premature death by thirty- five percent.
5. Smiling Boosts Immune System
Your body is more relaxed when you smile which contributes to good health and a stronger immune system. This winter, smile more often. Maybe one day doctors will prescribe smiling as an easy and enjoyable method for preventing colds and flu. In the meantime— it couldn’t hurt.
6. Smiling Escalates Professional Potential
Studies show that people who smile achieve greater success and are more likely to get promoted. Genuine smiles convey to others that you are trustable and cooperative. At your next meeting or appointment, smile more and notice if people react more positively toward you.
7. Smiling Improves Appearance
The muscles used for smiling lift the face and thus make you look younger. In fact, it’s easier to smile than to frown because your body has to work harder and use more muscles to frown than to smile. A study conducted by Orbit Complete revealed that sixty -nine percent of people find women more attractive when they smile than when they are wearing makeup! Another study conducted by German researchers from The Max Planck Institute in Berlin found that upbeat, happy people were thought to appear more attractive and youthful than their solemn peers. Smile throughout the day and you’ll look and feel better.
8. Smiling Skyrockets Your Popularity
By appearing more confident and approachable, smiley, cheerful individuals naturally draw people to themselves. A smiling person radiates happiness, lights up a room and positively changes the moods of others.
So make everyday a special occasion and share the gift that never goes out of style—your smile!
