With everything going on around us, we sometimes end up being so busy working towards future events, that we forget the little things in life, such as a simple smile.
It's quite amazing what this "little" thing can accomplish though!
Research has shown that in addition to improved health, these facial expressions and linked behaviors can have a positive impact on other areas of our lives as well.
When we smile, the movements of the muscles in our face, get interpreted by our brains, which in return ends up in the release of endorphins. These chemicals are responsible for making us feel happy and they also help lowering our stress levels.
We've all heard the "faked it till you make it" remark somewhere, and I'm happy to say this also counts for smiling! Even when we fake a smile or laugh, our brain doesn't differentiate between real and fake as it just interprets the positioning of the facial muscles in the same way.
So let's try this together!!! Show that beautiful smile right now and hold it until after you are done reading and let me know if you notice any difference!
Another interesting fact is that endorphins actually make us feel happier, less stressed and act as the body's natural pain killers. This actually reminds me of a time where I got my finger stuck between the door. Painful as it was, at the time I was telling my friend a joke and even though it was bleeding and painful as hell, I did finish my joke and we still had a good laugh and I think it definitely didn't make it worse! :p
Since cortisol is more active when we feel stressed, the release of endorphins actually reduces this. Try being both angry and happy at the same time! Tricky, right?
For the singles out there...smiling makes you a more attractive and confident looking person. It makes you more approachable and smiles tend to be quite contagious. So share those smiles for both your own sake as for the people around you!
How to smile a bit more often:
- Fake it till you make it! Just do it more!
- Watch funny movies or shows and avoid the negative ones.
- Spend more time with people who make you feel happy, and less (or none) with the toxic ones.