Smiling Is Good For You
Does your smile really make the difference between you being ignored and having a successful career? Research shows that kids smile an average of 400 times a day, while the average happy adult that smiles only twenty times a day. Are your teeth talking for you? Do they say everything you need to hear? Are you smiling every time you see a pretty girl with big teeth, or are you hiding your teeth from potential dates because you are embarrassed to smile?
Your smile can be your number one indicator of your mood and state of happiness, according to Dr. Richard F. Macko at the University of Buffalo’s Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, in “Gain some Happiness by Smiling: The Psychology of smiling as a powerful force for good”. In this study, participants were asked to view photographs of funny faces. Some of these photos had facial expressions printed on the picture, while others did not. Those that had facial expressions printed on them were asked to rate their mood before and after looking at the pictures.
Dr. Macko found that the people who showed more facial expressions had more happiness and more optimism. Dr. F. de Leon found that smiling helped the release of two hormones – serotonin and endorphins – into the bloodstream. These hormones act as natural pain killers and mood enhancers. Dr. F. R. Quercetin, in “The Power of Smiles”, claims that smiling helps lower blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration, while reducing the levels of cortisol, a stress hormone.
In addition to helping you smile your way through those tough moments, smiling is also a great way to maintain positive moods and feelings throughout the day. People who smile are happier than people who frown. According to” grinning makes you feel better” – a widely-used scientific research, published in the” Archives of General Psychology” – smiling can help increase social happiness, reduce distress from negative emotions like anger or sadness, and improve self-esteem. In addition, a smiling face can be a very attractive one!
Smiling has also been shown to increase your overall health. It has been shown to reduce your risk for heart disease and cardiovascular disease. It has also been shown to boost your immune system and your energy level. A smile is actually very important for overall health!
When you share knowledge with others in an enjoyable, positive, non-threatening manner, your overall happiness increases and your blood pressure decrease. When you smile, you are sending out positive vibes and allowing the good life lessons that you have learned to seep into those around you. Overall, smiling creates a happy outlook on life that enhances your immune system, increases your happiness and self-esteem, reduces your blood pressure, and helps keep you healthy and disease-free.