The simple act of smiling does far more than just make you look friendly – it can change your life and the lives of those around you. Here are 10 reasons why you should flash your pearly whites more often:
1. It boosts your immune system
Smiling changes the chemistry in your body. Numerous medical studies have found smiling to lower heart rate, steady breathing and relax the body, which results in a stronger immune system.
2. It changes your mood
Psychologists have found if you grin for 60 seconds, no matter how fake or forced it feels, it releases serotonin which tricks the body into making you feel happy again.
3. It lowers your blood pressure
As you smile, endorphins go up and blood pressure comes down. Those who have monitored their blood pressure both before and after smiling show a measurable difference.
4. It gives you a natural high
Rethink saying thank you with chocolates. According to The British Dental Health Foundation, a loving smile can produce the same emotional response as eating 2,000 chocolate bars!
5. It melts hearts
Several studies have found that a long-onset smile (0.5s onset) is seen as more authentic and flirtatious, and is perceived as more attractive, trustworthy and less dominant.
6. You’ll be remembered
Flash those pearly whites in your next interview. If you are smiling, you are three times more likely to be remembered than a person who is displaying negative or neutral features.
7. Smile your way to success
People who smile are more likely to get a promotion. Numerous studies have found a smile plays an important part in the physical attractiveness stereotype. Furthermore, psychological research has shown that attractive people are perceived as more successful, intelligent, and friendly.
8. You’ll look younger
Smiling is a natural facelift! It plumps up the cells in your skin and gives you a radiant glow. In fact, a study conducted by Orbit Complete found that 69 per cent of people find women more attractive when they smile than when they are wearing makeup.
9. And live longer
When you are smiling, it’s difficult not to be positive. And a positive attitude has been shown to increase life expectancy. Researchers at Columbia University found happier people were less likely to develop heart problems.
10. A quote to smile about
“A smile 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.
Today, PsychCentral posted an article on their blog about this very subject. Newer research is examining this further—how different kinds of smiling and our awareness of our smiling will impact our mood. In this newer study, where pencils were replaced by chopsticks, they also showed this induced smiling may have benefits for our hearts. Here’s the take-home point: “The researchers say their findings suggest smiling during brief periods of stress may help reduce the body’s stress response, regardless of whether the person actually feels happy or not.”
And if that’s not enough…
According to Mark Stibich, a consultant at Columbia University, and contributor to a Guide to Longevity at about.com —
Smiling:
- Makes Us Attractive to others There is an automatic attraction to people who smile.
- Contagious Others will want to be with you. You will be helping others feel good.
- Relieves Stress Stress does express itself right in our faces. When we smile, it can help us look better, less tired, less worn down.
- Releases Endorphins and Serotonin Research has reported that smiling releases endorphins, which are natural pain relievers, along with serotonin, which is also associated with feel good properties.
Duchenne smiles are the only type of smile that creates this positive effects. These smiles engage the muscles in the mouth, cheeks, and eyes and are considered to be genuine smiles.
Therefore…
When you smile at someone else and they smile a real smile in return – you are helping to create physiological changes in their bodies that may benefit them, as well as yourself.
If you are feeling good, let others know it, it will look good on you, and help others around you. If you are not feeling good, go get a pencil and hold it between your teeth.
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