Life's little wonders.: 10 reasons to smile.

10 reasons to smile.

1. Smiling to release happy hormones

Studies have shown that smiling releases endorphins, natural pain killers, and serotonin. Smiling is therefore a natural drug to keep us flying high and filled full of positivity.

2. Smile to spread positive emotions

Emotions are contagious and spread through people’s expressions. We naturally model human behaviour and are therefore nearly always influenced by those around us. Lead from the front and reinforce your own positive state by infecting others with the same feel-good emotions.

3. Smile to improve your mood

Smiling improves your mood, by acting as positive trigger. Through unconscious associations the brain becomes primed to remember times of happiness and enjoyment when you smile.

4.  Smile to improve productivity

One of the biggest predictors of behaviour is your internal state. If smiling makes you feel good, positive and more productive behaviours will follow.

5. Smile to relieve stress

When we feel positive, negative emotions such as stress are likely to subside. Smile whenever you feel stressed, to break your negative state.

6. Smile to make you more attractive

When we smile we appear more attractive. It also draws attention to our positive features, and makes us look more welcoming to others.

7. Smiling to boost your immune system

Whenever you smile you are more likely to induce feelings of calm and relaxation. Such states boost your immune system, and improve your body’s defences against potential illness.

8. Smile to improve your relationships

When you smile you improve your personal and professional relationships. Other than appearing more friendly and approachable you are more likely to make those around you feel better.

9. Smile to boost confidence and courage

When you smile you give your emotions a boost. This has a positive effect on your confidence levels, and subsequently the likelihood of taking on challenging and rewarding goals in your personal and professional life is increased

10. Smile to keep your inner-critic at bay

Smiling is an effective strategy to break the grip of your internal critic. By engaging in an external and inherently rewarding action such as smiling, you shift your focus away from your inner demons towards something more positive.