Smiling helps boost your mood, increase happiness and lower stress

Smiling comes naturally when you’re happy, an outward expression of the joy within. In fact, the physical act of putting on a smile seems to be a mood booster.

Why? Studies suggest that smiling activates areas of the brain associated with reward and triggers release of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Smiling also appears to stimulate responses in areas of the brain involving cognition and emotional processing. Plus, there appears to be a link between smiling and factors such as heart rate, blood pressure, and other stress level indicators.

So, the next time you’re stuck in traffic, waiting on hold or dealing with a rude salesperson, consider smiling. It might make you feel better and even lower your blood pressure a little.

Here is some expert advice for using smiling to better your well-being, especially to overcome tension.


Do

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  • remind yourself to smile
  • stick your smile to a prop
  • picture places and moments that give you peace
  • know perspective is paramount
Don't

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  • be influenced by negativity
  • forget to laugh
  • picture negative memories
  • miss the present moment

[publishpress_authors_data]'s recommendation to ExpertBeacon readers: Do

Do remind yourself to smile

At a very early age we learn to associate smiling with feeling good, because smiling does feel good. When we see others smile, it triggers those long established associations and makes us feel good too.Smiling is good for the muscles in the face and it is difficult to maintain anger when you smile. Especially in stressful situations, remind yourself to smile through it.

Do stick your smile to a prop

If you find it difficult to smile, use a prop, such as a silly picture of someone wearing a goofy grin. Paste it on cardstock and attach it to a stick so you can hold it like a lollypop. Carry it with you or keep it in your car and look at it when you are sitting at a stoplight or waiting in a long line. Hold it up to your face and turn and look at bystanders or other drivers while holding the smile in front of you. (This technique makes most people laugh or smile, but it does elicit a few rude salutes as well. Oh, well, some people take themselves far too seriously.)

Do picture places and moments that give you peace

Visualize what gives you a sense of joy or peace, such as places that you have visited and enjoyed, your favorite hobbies, activities, pleasant memories of a concert, athletic event, or a personal victory. Use the time to visualize and plan an upcoming project.

Do know perspective is paramount

Keep a healthy perspective on the current situation and remind yourself that things could always be worse. If you’re inching along in traffic, imagine yourself riding across the country in a horse-drawn coach or wagon or train where heat and air conditioning was unheard of and the top speed was 15 miles per hour.


[publishpress_authors_data]'s professional advice to ExpertBeacon readers: Don't

Do not be influenced by negativity

Stay positive! Remember, all that can really aggravate you are your own thoughts about what happens to you or around you. Nothing is really that dire or important. Remind yourself to smile, laugh and enjoy.

Do not forget to laugh

Physically, we just can't laugh without smiling, so the two are definitely paired. Laughing is even better for us than just smiling because it causes us to stretch our diaphragm, breath more deeply, and take more oxygen into our lungs, which in turn relaxes our muscles.

Do not picture negative memories

Visualize what gives you a sense of joy or peace, such as places that you have visited and enjoyed, your favorite hobbies, activities, pleasant memories of a concert, athletic event, or a personal victory. Use the time to visualize and plan an upcoming project.

Do not miss the present moment

Look around and take in your surroundings. Often you will see new and different things that you’ve never noticed before.


Summary

As all mothers with babies, BFFs and caregivers know, smiling usually elicits positive feelings and often sparks a positive reaction in others.

“Research is ongoing into the science behind the phenomenon of smiling, and we are coming to understand more about the role that smiling plays in our own minds and bodies, as well as in the minds and bodies of others,” said Solly.

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