The Power of a Smile

by Michael Corthell

The simple act of smiling can transform your day. Let's say that your day is starting out wrong, everything's a mess. Cat poop on the floor, you drop your toast on the floor and you run out of hot water. Etc. etc. it's a Monday! But, when you get to the store where you always get your coffee, Darlene flashes you that dazzling smile and you smile back. In fact the story she's telling you is so cute you keep smiling and smiling. You go to work and smile at grumpy Ralph  — the old goat smiles back. Your day is transformed.

"Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy."

— Thich Nhat Hanh

People who have lived a while agree that your smile can change you and the world around you. Common sense tells us that a smile is indeed contagious. It makes us appear more attractive to the world. And like Darlene's, it puts us in a better mood. Closely related to laughter it can even lengthen our lives. So before you finish this brief article, put a pretty smile on that pretty face of yours and think positive about your day.

How does this smiling thing work?

Smiling Affects Your Brain. The act of smiling activates 'feel good' chemicals (endorphins) in your brain.

Smiling Affects Your Body. Simply, you look better and people treat you differently. You’re seen as attractive, reliable, relaxed and sincere. Your response to this? You SMILE more!

Smiling Affects Those Around You. When a person's smile is seen by another an unconscious automatic response is created. Like a yawn, we can't help it, it just happens. Follow up that smile with a kind word or deed and you have now changed your 'dropped toast on the floor day' into a purely POSITIVE one!

The morning that started out as a complete mess was turned around by....a SMILE. We can’t always control what happens to us, but slapping a smile on our mugs can definitely change our internal and external experiences.

A smile is priceless! :) :) :)

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The Power of a Smile

Ron Gutman reviews a raft of studies about smiling, and reveals some surprising results. Did you know your smile can be a predictor of how long you'll live -- and that a simple smile has a measurable effect on your overall well-being? Prepare to flex a few facial muscles as you learn more about this evolutionarily contagious behavior.