It is pretty amazing to see how powerful a simple smile can be, but why is it that we don’t take full advantage of its benefits? As adults, we have multiple responsibilities, decisions, and tasks that distract us from the little things that brought us joy when we were little. We forget that there are simple actions that can have a meaningful impact on our lives. Just by contracting your face into a sunny smile, you can experience pleasure or even bring happiness to those around you. Likewise, our facial expressions aid us to show kindness and empathy to other people, which can play a fundamental role to make this a better world. You see, a smile has no borders and needs no translation as it is a language of its own. When you smile, you convey hope, positivity, happiness, acceptance, friendship, and love. Sharing a smile with others, regardless if you know them or not, has the power to improve their day.
These are some reasons why smiling every day can benefit your life in more ways than you can imagine.
Smiling improves your mood.
When you are having a bad day, try smiling, even for just a few seconds. Genuine or intentional smiles can influence your body to enter into a happy mindset. By smiling, you release dopamine and serotonin, which in turn makes you feel lighter, carefree, and boosts your overall mood.
Smiling is contagious.
We are wired to perceive body language changes in those around us. When we see someone smiling, our brains automatically translate it as positive behaviour, so we end up mimicking the same action. It is why when we smile at babies, in most situations, they smile back at us.
Smiling can influence others.
As we have discovered, a smile can sway those around you. When you smile at someone, you have the power to make people feel welcome and accepted. Next time you see someone having a bad day, remember, a simple smile is all it takes to improve their day and make them happy.
Smiling reduces stress.
We live in a world full of stress triggers, which makes it hard to find life balance. Yet, the simple action of smiling can help us find focus as it relaxes the body, providing us with a moment of serenity.
Smiling conveys feelings.
We can express so much through a smile that even our four-legged furry friends have adapted to read our facial expressions. When you smile at your dog, there is a high chance they will interpret that as an invitation to playtime.
While smiles are basic human expressions that help us interact with others, we all have the potential to take advantage of all the benefits that a smile can have in our lives. If you want to improve this world, make sure to share your smile. It is the little things that matter, plus who knows? You could end up having a lot of fun.
