Smile – love being you

“It 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, How to win friends and influence people

Have you ever heard it takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile?

It can take as little as five and as many as 16 to smile. Like any muscle the more you use your smile, the stronger it gets and the more smiling benefits you receive.

There are many health benefits to smiling, including increasing your sense of wellbeing and pleasure with each day. Smiling also improves your health by boosting your immune system and lowering your blood pressure. It’s a great stress reliever and increases your attractiveness to others.

Smiling has been found to release powerful neurotransmitters like endorphins and serotonin – our body’s natural ‘feel good’ drugs. Endorphins are also released when laughing, exercising, having sex, eating chocolate, sunbathing, during massages and meditation, when dancing, singing and listening to music – just about anything that leaves a smile on your face. Serotonin is a vital part of regulating our moods, sleep, sexuality and appetite. The serotonin/smile relationship goes both ways – good mood, getting good sleep, good sex and good food will ensure the smiles and serotonin keep coming.

The term “keep your chin up”, has real physiological benefits. Notice what happens when you stretch your neck backward and look up – a natural smile forms in the facial muscles. There are many simple movements in the practice of yoga that produce this effect, which is probably why participants have a giant grin on their face after a yoga session.

While happiness comes at all ages, smiling into your golden years can actually promote longevity. In a study on optimism published in General Psychiatry, of those over the age of 65 optimists were 71 per cent less likely to die from certain causes than that of pessimists. A life full of smiles also exercises muscles in the face, which helps prevent drooping and saggy skin.

Here are some reasons smiling is good for us:

1. Smiling makes us attractive
We are drawn to people who smile. We want to know a smiling person and figure out what is making them smile. Frowns, scowls and grimaces all push people away, but a smile draws them in.

2. Smiling changes our mood
Next time you are feeling down, try tricking your body by putting on a smile. There’s a good chance you mood will change for the better.

3. Smiling is contagious
When someone is smiling they light up the room, change the mood of others and make things happier. A smiling person brings happiness with them. Smile lots and you will draw people to you.

4. Smiling relieves stress
Stress can really show up in our faces. Smiling helps to prevent us from looking tired, worn down and overwhelmed. When you are stressed, take time to put on a smile. The stress should be reduced and you will be better able to take action.

5. Smiling boosts your immune system
When you smile immune function improves, possibly because you are more relaxed. Prevent the flu and colds by smiling.

6. Smiling lowers your blood pressure
When you smile, there is a measurable reduction in your blood pressure. Sit for a few minutes and take your blood pressure. Then smile for a minute and take another reading while still smiling. Do you notice a difference?

7. Smiling releases natural feel good drugs
Studies have shown smiling releases endorphins, natural painkillers, and serotonin. Together these three make us feel good.

8. Smiling makes you look younger
The muscles we use to smile lift the face, making a person appear younger. Don’t go for a facelift, just try smiling your way through the day – you’ll look younger and feel better.

9. Smiling makes you seem successful
Smiling people appear more confident, are more likely to be promoted and to be approached. Put on a smile at meetings and appointments and people will react to you differently.

10. Smiling helps you stay positive
Try this test: smile. Now try to think of something negative without losing the smile. It’s hard. When we smile our body is sending the message, “Life is good”. Stay away from depression, stress and worry by smiling.

My favourite affirmation is, “I’m so happy I can’t stop smiling”. It always helps put a smile on my face. If I don’t feel like smiling, I try to “fake it until I make it”. I pretend I am happy by smiling anyway and usually I find I am feeling better in no time.

Outrageously Healthy Tip: Practice smiling. When you are exercising, taking a walk or looking at yourself in the mirror  tell yourself, “I’m so happy I can’t stop smiling”.

Tags: Articles, Mindset, Mindset Article