The Benefits of Smiling
Let's look at the benefits of smiling, what it can do to your psyche and how a smile affects people around you.
If you were to do a people watching exercise and focus on seeing people's expression, how many people do you think put on a smile compared to a frown?
Smiling is something that many people find hard to do on a regular basis. Everyone seems to think that they must have a good reason to smile. With so many things going on inside a person's world and also stress and pressures on the outside, people have more excuses why they can't put on a grin on their faces.
Thoughts create emotions. When you think unhappy thoughts such as remembering some bad memories that have happened in the past or when you worry about something that you think might happen in the future, that thought shows up on your facial expression. Have you thought about what would happen if you were to force yourself or consciously decide to smile in the midst of the melancholic thoughts?
Your thoughts will change followed by a shift in emotions. Your brain will not know whether you are really happy or faking it. So when you move your facial muscles to smile, the brain will take it that everything is all right and you are feeling good. It will release endorphins and that will make you feel better.
So, one of the benefits of smiling is its ability to change your focus of attention and reduces anxieties and stress. It's one of the easiest ways to de-stress and reduce your risk of hypertension. If you interrupt your though patterns often enough by smiling even when you don't feel like it, the brain creates a new neural pathway or pattern of thoughts and you will soon develop a habit of smiling.
How do you feel when someone smiles at you? Doesn't it warm your heart? And wouldn't you normally smile back? Smiling is contagious and it is healthy to spread it around.
Another one of the benefits of smiling is it makes you look "sweeter," more friendly and approachable. It is the easiest way to make a good first impression. You can create better bond and rapport and easily make new friends and maintain existing ones.
People like to be around others who are happy and don't show up like they are carrying a burden on their shoulders. And a smile can also be a great tool to weaken your enemies or rivals.
If you think that you don't have and can't find any reasons to smile, why not think of things that are working right in your life right now? Once you question yourself on what it is that you are grateful about in your life, you will find that there are several things that can bring the smile on your face.
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