The Power Of A Smile
– By James McFadden –
Have you ever noticed how powerful and contagious a smile can be? Did you know, that research has linked smiling to our ability to be optimistic and that it lowers our risk of early death, cancer, and infections? Well, according to Harvard Medical Schools, Harvard Health Publishing, it’s true!
Past and present psychologists have found upward of 15 different types of smiles, all conveying other messages. Often referred to as “the chosen vehicle for all ambiguities,” smiling can even convey fear, embarrassment, misery, and anger, among other emotions.
And, according to Walden University, believe it or not, we are actually born smiling. With the advancement of 3D ultrasound technology, doctors and medical practitioners have identified that developing babies smile in the womb. Once a baby is born, they continue to smile. This is true of all babies regardless of culture and environment, as smiling is an essential and biological uniform human expression.
In a study led by Noel Brick, a researcher in sport and exercise psychology at the University of Ulster, found that facial expressions and their accompanying emotional states are associated with one another. As a result, when a person makes a facial expression of smiling, they are likely to experience an emotional state of happiness.
In Brian Luke Seward’s paper, Managing Stress: Principles and Strategies for Health and Well-Being, he discusses how smiling stimulates neural connections, which lead to stress reduction. The act of smiling activates neural networks, which improves mood and reduces stress. The neural connections stimulated by smiling also cause a surge in mood-boosting endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin, leading to feelings of happiness. Smiling not only induces a positive impact on mental well-being but also contributes to improved physical health as smiling has also been shown to lower high heart rates and blood pressure.
One smile is all it takes to improve your mood, energy, and overall health. One smile is all it takes to help someone have a better day. One smile is all it takes to make a difference in this world. One smile can make a powerful impact that ripples past our immediate surroundings. I know this to be true because I strive to live this philosophy every day of my life, and I strive to teach those around me this very same principle. Sometimes, the only thing we need to do is smile! It may sound too good to be true, but I have a challenge for each and every one of you reading this today. Spend a day smiling at everyone you come across throughout your day; make it a conscious effort and then repeat that for the next few days and I assure you, you will feel just how powerful that smile can be.
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