“Don't frown. You never know who is falling in love with your smile.”
- Anonymous
Smiles are Medicinal
Have you ever walked down the street and caught someone smiling at you? Wasn’t it refreshing? Didn’t it make you forget (even for a moment) whatever was troubling you that day?
Have you ever met a person who’s smile is so genuine and so full of character that you can’t help but smile yourself? Have you ever tried to tell someone with that kind of smile anything down putting? Have you ever seen anyone with that kind of smile be told something down putting?
It almost seems as if a smile is enough to rid the area of hate and fill it with happiness.
The truth is, a smile absolutely has that power!
The Science of the Smile
The smile’s immense healing power is something that people are often told about, yet still seem to overlook. People who smile often are generally healthier, happier people. Is this because of their good fortune that they smile so often?
No!
Good fortune finds people with positive outlooks. Good fortune stalks those who are kind to others. Good fortune surrounds those who are content to smile for no other reason than the fact that it is so simple and so fulfilling.
Monkey See, Monkey Do
Humans instinctively mirror the emotions they see. When faced with images depicting certain emotions, we tend to feel those same sensations. Try it yourself: find a picture of a person frowning. Study the person’s face. Try to think of their reason for displaying this emotion. Then try to smile. Difficult, isn’t it? Then try testing your instincts: look at pictures of people being happy, angry, depressed, etc. Make a note of what your immediate reaction is. Your first instinct should be to mirror the person’s emotions.
Studies have been performed showing that statistically significant percentages of people are more physically attracted to models they see in pictures if they are smiling or laughing than if they display no emotion or one of sorrow or anger.
Smile! It’s Good For You!
The proof is out there! All you have to do is give it a try. First, try smiling to people you know. They will probably start complimenting you on how much better you look (“Is that a new haircut?”, “Have you been going to the gym?”). Then start smiling at strangers. Then just try to smile whenever you can. By then, you should actually start feeling healthier physically.
Imagine how much happier the world would be if people weren’t afraid to smile to each other more often. Make it your reality!
