The Magic Of A Smile

My day started out on a great note.  I was getting things done this morning and feeling a good sense of accomplishment.  But by the time 10:00pm rolled around and I was just pulling into my garage from a very long and frustrating day, I was feeling grumpy and stressed out.  As I came in the door I found the house empty and I had a sudden flashback to a similar night several years ago when I had come home from a long day to find my son teenage son dancing around the kitchen with a huge smile on his face. I remember asking him why he was so happy, (as frankly, his happiness was a little irritating at first since I was coming from a place of grumpiness myself) and he proceeded to share with me that he had attended a leadership seminar that day in which they brought in motivational speakers to teach the students at his high school. He shared with me the details of one talk in particular in which the speaker talked about all the benefits of a SMILE and what a huge impact a smile could have on your health, your happiness, and your success. The more we discussed it the more I found myself smiling and laughing at his stories and suddenly I noticed that I no longer felt grouchy or stressed out. I actually started to feel happy and at peace again the more he made me smile. Later I went and did some research on smiles and found a top 10 list on the benefits of smiling that I want to share with all of you: 

1. Smiling Makes Us Attractive

We are drawn to people who smile. There is an attraction factor. We want to know a smiling person and figure out what is so good. Frowns, scowls and grimaces all push people away — but a smile draws them in (avoid these smile aging habits to keep your smile looking great).

2. Smiling Changes Our Mood

Next time you are feeling down, try putting on a smile. There’s a good chance you mood will change for the better. Smiling can trick the body into helping you change your mood.

 3. Smiling Is Contagious

When someone is smiling they lighten up the room, change the moods of others, and make things happier. A smiling person brings happiness with them. Smile lots and you will draw people to you.

4. Smiling Relieves Stress

Stress can really show up in our faces. Smiling helps to prevent us from looking tired, worn down, and overwhelmed. When you are stressed, take time to put on a smile. The stress should be reduced and you’ll be better able to take action.

5. Smiling Boosts Your Immune System

Smiling helps the immune system to work better. When you smile, immune function improves possibly because you are more relaxed. Prevent the flu and colds by smiling.

6. Smiling Lowers Your Blood Pressure

When you smile, there is a measurable reduction in your blood pressure. Give it a try if you have a blood pressure monitor at home. Sit for a few minutes, take a reading. Then smile for a minute and take another reading while still smiling. Do you notice a difference?

7. Smiling Releases Endorphins, Natural Pain Killers and Serotonin

Studies have shown that smiling releases endorphins, natural pain killers, and serotonin. Together these three make us feel good. Smiling is a natural drug.

8. Smiling Lifts the Face and Makes You Look Younger

The muscles we use to smile lift the face, making a person appear younger. Don’t go for a face lift, just try smiling your way through the day — you’ll look younger and feel better.

9. Smiling Makes You Seem Successful

Smiling people appear more confident, are more likely to be promoted, and more likely to be approached. Put on a smile at meetings and appointments and people will react to you differently.

10. Smiling Helps You Stay Positive

Try this test: Smile. Now try to think of something negative without losing the smile. It’s hard. When we smile our body is sending the rest of us a message that “Life is Good!” Stay away from depression, stress and worry by smiling.

I know that the things in that list are true as I experienced many of those that night I came home to find my son dancing around and I have experienced it many more times since then.  Isn’t it nice to have positive people in our lives who can remind us to change our attitude when we are down, the way my son did for me that night? He is such an amazing person and I am lucky to have someone like him in my life. There are a lot of really positive and uplifting people I get to be around every day who do that for me as well and I am grateful to them for helping me smile when I feel down.

Wouldn’t it be awesome if we were all more that way ourselves and if we chose to surround ourselves with the people that do the same for us. So let’ do that!

Remember the Magic of a SMILE today!

~Amy

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