Got Time for a Smile?

Smiling more can make you healthier and happier:)

Small shifts that make huge positive differences. Smiling is one.

Smiling is usually an involuntary expression of happiness. Research shows that children smile an average of 400 times per day, the average happy adult 40-50 times a day and the average adult only 20 times per day. So what? Here’s ‘so what’. Smiling more can make you healthier and happier.

1) Smiling lowers blood pressure, stress and heart rate. A smile spurs a chemical reaction in the brain, releasing hormones including dopamine and serotonin. Dopamine increases our feelings of happiness. Serotonin release is associated with reduced stress. Low levels of serotonin are associated with depression and aggression. Low levels of dopamine are also associated with depression. Even fake smiling can trick your brain into believing you’re happy which can then generate actual feelings of happiness and lower blood pressure and lower heart rate.

2) Smiling elevates moods (even fake smiling) because the act of smiling activates neural messaging, triggering pleasure centers throughout the brain. It’s like an anti-depressant. Interesting factoid: A university study showed that people who could not frown because of botox injections were on average happier than those who could frown. So, when you’re driving, reading, taking a shower, etc., put on a smile for 30 seconds and see how much more elevated you feel.

3) We are naturally drawn to people who smile. Smiling is contagious, much like yawning. Evolution over 100,000-200,000 years have hardwired our brains to perceive a smiling person as safer, more likable, courteous, competent, easier to approach, talk to and with whom to be friends and cultivate a relationship. We all possess mirror neurons that automatically respond because we feel endeared. Smiling is one of the elements important to developing a higher Emotional Quotient and establishing greater report with others. Smilers tend to be more productive and make more money.  Smiling more can make you healthier and happier.

4) A take-away exercise: For the next 2-3 weeks, as you start each day, fit in 30-60 seconds to simply smile. Do nothing else in those 30-60 seconds but smile. Focus on your grin without second guessing. If you start with a fake grin, chances are you’ll be naturally smiling at the end of your minute. I’ll bet that in that minute you’d find it difficult to even think a negative thought. Share this with your family and have a Family Smile Minute every morning. Watch how the day begins lighter, happier and more positive, having shared a fun, family experience.

Got a minute? Smiling more can make you healthier and happier.