Smiling, we haven’t always felt like it over the past months! It continues to be a tough year for all of us but hopefully now we can see a bit of light at the end of the tunnel.
Maybe we have drawn on inner reserves of strength and put into place self-care and wellbeing ways that have promoted our resilience or “bounce back”.
One of the simplest ways to trigger a positive reaction within us is to smile.
There is a lot that goes on when we smile, our biochemistry changes and we generate positive emotions and trigger off a trio of happy hormones – dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin.
Even if you make a smile and hold it for long enough you will still trigger off the reward centre in your brain and it starts to feel more genuine.
When you smile at someone else, it too has an effect on their biochemistry and in turn they feel better.
It has been shown that on average you live 7 years longer than a person who rarely smiles!
In the video below, taken from my weekly wellbeing tips, I tell you how frequently we smile as an adult as opposed to a child!
Why make an effort to smile if we don’t feel like it?
Research behind smiling shows that there are many benefits to smiling:-
- Lowers stress levels
- Reduces pain
- Decreases blood pressure
- Boost immune system
- Increases longevity
- Increases productivity
- Look younger
- Is a Universal language!
So for today, even though you may not always feel like it, smile at yourself and then pass it on!