So now that you understand the science behind smiling, we can look at the benefits of smiling for yourself. As you now know, even the simple act of smiling can trigger us to feel happier, as well as those around us.
There are a variety of benefits from smiling, including some health benefits too.
Hopefully, once you have read these you will be more prone to smiling, even when you are not feeling particularly happy, as you will know what benefits it could bring you.
1. Smiling Lowers Stress And Anxiety
As mentioned previously, smiling can improve our positivity and make us feel happier.
In studies where people had to deal with stressful situations whilst smiling, those who smiled were found to have lower heart rates than those who were not smiling.
Heart rates can be linked to stress and anxiety, so the fact that smiling can cause lower heart rates shows that this is a great health benefit from smiling. As smiling can lower our heart rate and help us to feel less stressed and anxious, we can then start to feel happier and be able to have a better, more positive mindset to deal with stressful situations.
2. Smiling Releases Endorphins
Smiling can also help with stress and anxiety because of the hormones that are released when we smile.
When Endorphins are released, we can feel happier and more positive. Endorphins are the same hormones that are normally released when you exercise, which can make you feel much better, more motivated and less stressed or worried.
3. Smiling Makes You More Approachable
Studies have also shown that most people feel that others who smile are much more approachable than those who do not smile.
This can help with work, friends and complete strangers, as others can feel like you are easier to talk to and they are not afraid to approach you.
Similarly, this can provide an overall nicer experience when talking and interacting with someone who smiles, rather than with someone who doesn’t.
4. Smiles Are Contagious
Have you ever found that when someone smiles at you, you automatically smile back? It could be a friend, work colleague or maybe even a stranger.
Research has shown that due to something that we all possess called Mirror Neurons, we often respond to the act of smiling by imitating it and smiling ourselves.
This will then also cause us to simulate the emotions that come with the action of smiling too. Consequently, this will cause those involved with the act of smiling (for example, a work colleague who smiled to you and now, also you), to become happier and feel happier emotions too. So, smiles really can be contagious!
5. Smiling Boosts Your Activity
Not only can smiling make you feel happier and more positive, but it can also help you to become more productive.
Studies have shown that being happy has a great effect on productivity in the workplace.
Smiling can cause us to be happy and experience happy emotions! This helps us to become more productive as we can have a better mindset.
Although, this can also be the same with the opposite, negative emotions can cause us to become drained and less productive, so keep on smiling.
6. Smiling Kills Pain
Smiling has been shown to help ease any pain that you could be experiencing. As mentioned previously, smiling can release endorphins, which can make you feel happier.
These hormones are also known as a natural painkiller. They can also help to ease the pain you are experiencing.
7. Smiling Makes You Look Younger
Smiling can also make you look younger than you are, studies have shown. On average, the research has shown that you normally can look about 3 years younger. When you smile, it can naturally lift your face and can fend off any frown lines that you may get. Consequently, this can help you to look younger.
Source-
www.thelawofattraction.com
