Emotional and physical benefits from smiling :)

Did you know that science proves (see below):
1) Your smile directly helps other people who see your smile.
2) When other people smile, it directly helps you.
3) When you smile, you help yourself.

What are the Medical and Emotional Benefits from Smiling?

Smiling not only offers a mood boost but helps our bodies release cortisol and endorphins that provide numerous health benefits, including: (source henryford.com)

• Reduced blood pressure.
• Increased endurance.
• Reduced pain.
• Reduced stress.
• Strengthened immune system.

What does smiling do to the brain?
Smiling activates tiny molecules in your brain that are designed to fend off stress. These molecules, called neuropeptides, facilitate communication between neurons in your brain. Also, when you smile, your brain releases dopamine, endorphins and serotonin. (source aultman.org hospital)

The Importance of Smiling and Laughing for Overall Health  (twkidsdentist.com)
In addition to the endorphins people released, studies show that smiling can also help lower blood sugar and blood pressure, reduced stress, boost immune systems, and release natural painkillers and serotonin. Draws Others to You . A smile often puts others at ease.

• Increases Confidence
• Makes You Happier
• Physical Benefits
• Draws Others to You

Others I found include:

• Strengthens Relationships
• Relieves Anxiety
• Correlates to a Longer Life
• Smiling is a natural pain reliever
• Creates a positive mood
• Works like a facelift, and helps you look younger

When we smile at others, all can receive this gift..

Science discovery about smiling:

Unless you purposely suppress a smile:
You can automatically smile when other people smile.
Other people can automatically smile when you smile.

Science measured the brain and discovered that
anybody that sees you smile
gets a signal in *their* brain
that automatically triggers the *same* part of the brain
that your smile triggers in you!

Two positive results from this automatic generated brain activity:
1) Their brain encourages the creation of a smile in them. They may still choose to suppress if they don't want to smile.
2) Regardless if they smile, the brain still signals the same health benefits from smiling, even if they choose not to smile! Pretty nice!

Here is one positive application from this discovery.
Let's suppose you smile to someone, even if you have to start by "faking" a nice smile!
1) You "fake" a smile.
2) Your smile triggers the brain of the other person, and they are likely to smile back to you. Your smile helps to make them feel better!
3) When they smile back to you, their smile triggers your brain, which makes you actually want to smile!
4) The result is that their smile sends signals that help you feel better! Maybe you will no longer need to fake it :)))))
Your fake smile to someone could turn your smile into a loving smile that will make you feel better, automatically!

It's an amazing science discovery of what smiles can do. See mirror neurons, for the science behind this.

See also: Two for the price of one

Consider watching this 2 minute "crazy guy?" up close,
and see if this makes you smile on the inside :)

I invite you to consider this:

Imagine a world where everyone smiled :)

Possible experiment

If you want to feel how powerful a smile can be, try this "experiment". Follow it exactly.
1) Go into your bathroom, or where there is a mirror.
2) Standing near to the mirror, turn your head and body so that you can NOT see the mirror.
3) For the next 10 seconds, smile and make it as genuine and happy as you can! Think about how that smile "feels" to you.
4) After 10 seconds, keeping the smile from 3) turn and look in the mirror with that smile.
5) Spend 10 seconds or more looking at your smile in the mirror. Think about how that smile "feels" to you.
Was the smile in the mirror more powerful, positive feeling than when you just smiled, not looking at the mirror?

Thank YOU for reading this!

By David M