Smiling can make you happy (even when
you're not).
Remember that mind-body connection we were just talking about? Well, it turns out that the simple act of smiling sends a message to your brain that you're happy. And when 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. In 1984, an article in the journal Science showed that
when people mimic different emotional expressions, their bodies produce
physiological changes that reflect the emotion, too, such as changes in heart
and breathing rate. Another German study found that people felt happy just by
holding a small pen clenched in their teeth, imitating a smile.
Just remember that the research goes both ways. When the people in the first study frowned, they felt less happy, and in the German study, people who held a pen in their protruding lips, imitating a pout, felt unhappy. So 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.
"When you're smiling', the whole world smiles with you." Ever heard that song, made famous by Louis Armstrong? Well, it's true. 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. Crazy, right?
Remember that mind-body connection we were just talking about? Well, it turns out that the simple act of smiling sends a message to your brain that you're happy. And when 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. In 1984, an article in the journal Science showed that
when people mimic different emotional expressions, their bodies produce
physiological changes that reflect the emotion, too, such as changes in heart
and breathing rate. Another German study found that people felt happy just by
holding a small pen clenched in their teeth, imitating a smile.Just remember that the research goes both ways. When the people in the first study frowned, they felt less happy, and in the German study, people who held a pen in their protruding lips, imitating a pout, felt unhappy. So 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.
"When you're smiling', the whole world smiles with you." Ever heard that song, made famous by Louis Armstrong? Well, it's true. 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. Crazy, right?
4. Smiling can help you de-stress.
The next time you're stressed about work or realize that your favourite jeans feel a little snug, 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.
Reducing stress is so important for health, too, as it can lower blood pressure, improve digestion and regulate blood sugar. Note that this works during workouts, too! If you're having a hard time getting through that last rep or getting those final 5 minutes in on the treadmill, smiling can do wonders!
5. Smiling can help you land a job.
If you're about to go on a job interview, you may think that your appearance
is just about wearing nice
clothes. Wrong! You can't just wear that suit; you have to wear it with a
smile. 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.
Sound like traits most companies want in an employee, right? So the next time
you're dressing to impress, make sure
to take that beautiful,
natural smile with you!
6. Smiling can lead to laughter.
Have you ever laughed without smiling? It's pretty impossible to do. And it's funny how a smile here and a smile there with friends can turn into a whole fit
of
hysterical laughter. Numerous studies have been done on the health benefits of
laughing, including how it acts like a mini workout that burns calories and
works the abs. Laughter also helps blood flow, lowers blood sugar levels
,
reduces stress and improves sleep. It may also raise the level of
infection-fighting antibodies in the body, which helps boost your immune system. So the moral of this
story is smile—and laugh—often!
The next time you're stressed about work or realize that your favourite jeans feel a little snug, 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.
Reducing stress is so important for health, too, as it can lower blood pressure, improve digestion and regulate blood sugar. Note that this works during workouts, too! If you're having a hard time getting through that last rep or getting those final 5 minutes in on the treadmill, smiling can do wonders!
5. Smiling can help you land a job.
If you're about to go on a job interview, you may think that your appearance
is just about wearing nice
clothes. Wrong! You can't just wear that suit; you have to wear it with a
smile. 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.
Sound like traits most companies want in an employee, right? So the next time
you're dressing to impress, make sure to take that beautiful,
natural smile with you!6. Smiling can lead to laughter.
Have you ever laughed without smiling? It's pretty impossible to do. And it's funny how a smile here and a smile there with friends can turn into a whole fit
of
hysterical laughter. Numerous studies have been done on the health benefits of
laughing, including how it acts like a mini workout that burns calories and
works the abs. Laughter also helps blood flow, lowers blood sugar levels,
reduces stress and improves sleep. It may also raise the level of
infection-fighting antibodies in the body, which helps boost your immune system. So the moral of this
story is smile—and laugh—often!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? Itsure
does beat the heck out of a
frown.source
positive thinking are projected with smiles and positive actions. Positive actions bring happiness that make you more positive and you are in the circle of feeling good. isn't that the aim in life?????
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