Smiles

Do you ever wonder what our world would be like if we all smiled a little bit more?  

More to a Smile Than Lips and Teeth

By CARL ZIMMER (NY Times)

Psychologists have studied smiles carefully for decades, but mostly from the outside. When the zygomaticus major muscles in our cheeks contract, they draw up the corners of our mouths. But there’s much more to a smile than that.

“A smile is not this floating thing, like a Cheshire Cat,” said Dr. Niedenthal. “It’s attached to a body.” 

The 6 Health Powers Behind Smiling 

By: Catherine Roberts (Active Beat)

Not only are smiles free—they also have the ability to do all sorts of positive things for our health and wellness, according to Portman Health, a UK-based dental provider.

1. Smiling Releases Endorphins

 The act of smiling is a proven cognitive response that triggers the release of endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin—which not only make you feel great, but also work as natural pain relievers.

2. Smiling is Contagious

Research published in Psychology Today found that there is an automatic human attraction to people who smile. So not only does smiling affect your own mood (for the better); it also makes us far more attractive to other people.

3. Smiling Boosts Heart Health

Findings showed that while the smiling (both forced and genuine) reduce the body’s stress response and lowered heart rate and blood pressure significantly, the genuine smiling participants recovered from the stress at much faster rates.

4. Smile to Strengthen Immunity

It turns out that laughter (or smiling a lot) is indeed the best medicine when it comes to lowering the risk of cancer and several other chronic diseases (i.e., diabetes, arthritis, and several auto-immune diseases).

5. Smile for Success

smiling rewires the brain to adopt positive patterns vs. negative patterns. And happiness is a powerful thing in the world of business. After all, it creates an air of happiness, satisfaction, inner peace, and success around you that others are naturally attracted to.

6. Happiness Adds Years to Your Life

Dr. Kubzanky, an Associate Professor of society, human development, and health at the Harvard School of Public Health, discovered that emotional happiness, enthusiasm, strong social bonds, positivity, and life engagement extended life. 

If you need more motivation to smile, then watch this video clip from the old musical, "Bye, Bye Birdie":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_CE7GqqrvY