5 REASONS TO SMILE TODAY

Smiling is a natural human reaction to a pleasant situation. Some days, though, it feels like nothing pleasant is happening, so you feel like you have nothing to smile about. There are reasons to smile even when you don’t really feel like it.

According to Psychology Today, “There’s Magic in Your Smile,” there are real physical reasons to smile especially when you feel bad. Here are some of them that are outlined in that article.

ONE – Smiling Releases Feel Good Chemicals in Your Brain

“When we learn to smile at life, we shall find that the problems we encounter dissolve.” Donald Curtis

When you smile, it triggers your brain to release dopamine, endorphins and serotonin. These three work together to fight stress. Your stress level drops, and your mood shifts from bad to good. Try it. It’s hard to be sad and upset when you are smiling.

TWO – Smiling Makes You More Attractive to Others

“A smile is the best makeup any girl can wear.” Marilyn Monroe

Smiling at someone sends positive energy towards them, and they gravitate toward it. They feel good because you smiled at them, and feeling good makes them look more favorably on you. If you make someone feel good by smiling, they can’t help but react positively to you. If you want to really make them happy, crack a funny joke and make them laugh.

THREE – Smiling Spreads Happiness

“Smile at strangers and you might change a life.” Steve Maraboli

When you smile at someone, they cannot help but smile back. You feel good when you smile, and they automatically smile and feel good. The feeling of relaxation and happiness that comes with a smile is its own reward. People tend to do the things that make them feel good over and over again.

FOUR – Smiling Helps Reduce Pain

“Of all the medicines in inner life, a smile is by far the best medicine.” Sri Chinmoy

Remember those feel good chemicals that get released when you smile? Well, endorphins are a natural pain reliever. It’s hard to concentrate on where you hurt when you are smiling because the pain gets dulled. Amazing, isn’t it?

FIVE – Smiling Helps Reduce Blood Pressure

“A smile cures the wounding of a frown.” William Shakespeare

So, those feel good chemicals not only make you feel happier and in a better mood, and relieve your pain, but they actually have the physical affect of reducing your blood pressure. This is a plus for everyone.

There is No Reason to NOT Smile

“You’ll find that life is still worthwhile, if you just smile.” Charlie Chaplain

So, is there really any reason to not smile today? Nope. Smiling does good things for you. I don’t know why people don’t go around with a smile plastered on their face all the time. Anyone can have a smile on their face even if no one else is around to see it.

I think this is why I see so many people watching funny videos on their phone or tablet or TV. We all love to laugh because to laugh, you have to include a smile, and smiling makes us feel good. Ergo, laughing makes us feel good.

If there were no validity to this theory, there wouldn’t be dozens of emojis of smiling faces. The smiley face goes back at least 40 years that I can remember. Possibly even longer. We all love putting those little round, yellow smiling faces on our texts and emails because that smile makes us happy.

Have you ever met someone that doesn’t smile and has no sense of humor? I have. I prefer not to be in their company for very long. They have some deep seated issues to be a Debby Downer all the time. I want to be around people who are funny and smile a lot.

We all have bad days. We all have bad moments. We all have bad seasons. No one is exempt from them. That’s just part of life. It’s how we act during those times that impacts us. It determines if we go down the rabbit hole of misery, or if we stay happy and joyful.

Even if you are in a season in your life where you think you have absolutely nothing to smile about, make something up. Smile because the sun came out. Smile because it’s raining. Smile because you didn’t burn your eggs this morning. Read a joke. Watch a funny video. Let those feel good chemicals come out to play in your brain so that you will feel better.

“I love those who can smile in trouble.” Leonardo Da Vinci

So smile through the bad times. They won’t seem so bad. Maintain that positive attitude. Don’t let these fleeting moments in your life ruin your whole life.

*********************************

Like what you’ve read? Subscribe to my blog or leave me a message on my contact page.