smiles r contagious

“Smile more, it’s good for you”

“A smiling face is a beautiful face”

For much of my childhood, I was known for always smiling. Whether I was at school with friends or talking to adults I couldn’t bring myself to a straight face, it was always a smile. At the time, I displayed smiles to show kindness and respect to whoever I was with. What I didn’t know was the affect it had. Many around me said that with my smiling face, they in turn felt the need to smile and it brightened their days.

I think as humans we underestimate the power of our smile, and how we can use it to uplift ourselves and others around us.

“A smiling heart is a happy heart.”

So what is the science behind a smile? How can something seemingly simple impact us so greatly?

When we feel happy, our brain produces something called endorphins-hormones that can help bring out feelings of euphoria. When these are created, neuronic signals trigger a smile. Once a smile is triggered, signals are sent back to the brain increasing our happiness.

Furthermore, smiling also brings health benefits, like reducing anxiety, as well as lowering your blood pressure and heart rate. The happiness level that a smile can bring to our brains is estimated as equivalent to that of having 2,000 bars of chocolate, or getting £16,000. Thus, we do not need chocolate and cash to be happy. A single smile will do! (Ding Li, 2014)

So fake it til you make it is legit? YES! Because the muscles of a smile can trigger our “happy hormones” faking a smile will work just as well as an authentic smile.

Think of smiles as a natural anti-depressant. Now that’s powerful!

How can you use a simple smile from your day to day routine? Here are 2 methods to the madness that have worked for me. Whether you have had a sad day or want a stress reliever to what has been an exhausting day, try these!

1. Wake up & Smile

This one is important, starting your day with a conscious smile in the mirror begins the day in a great way. Practice it. It sounds funny but it is legit. As you move the muscles in your face start extending them to your eyes, for a more natural smile. You can do it in front of the mirror. Practicing smiling can make you smile more often and naturally.

2. Use happy music and memories to smile

Reflection on happier times has always been a nice way to fall asleep as I hit the pillow. I would think of hiking mountains with my family or going to the fair with my friends. A happy memory actually goes a long way when you are feeling down. Sometimes remembering a time when we were happy gives us hope to feel like that again.

Connecting to this, music can help us feel happy as well. My Cloud 9 playlist is full of smiling songs:

Check it out!

If there have been any main observations, it is that smiling is a very simple and beneficial natural instrument we can yield to our advantage.

#SmileMore

My family was right all along.

I hope whoever is reading this is enjoying life and learning some amazing things on my website. I am here for you ❤

Peace & Good Vibes,

Maya 🙂