Try a Smile II

Sometimes you just can’t help yourself. Have you ever tried not to laugh in a serious situation and just found it too much? The more you tried the funnier it all became until you dissolved in laughter. Have you ever noticed that when someone is smiling everyone around them seems lighter and happier too? Smiling triggers activity in the left frontal cortex which seems to have a connection to your feelings of happiness. Here’s five more reasons you should practice a smile as often as you can - even if you are just smiling to yourself.

6. Kills Pain – Smiling and laughter both have been shown to lessen pain. They release endorphins that lift our moods, but many of these act as natural painkillers too.

7. Increases Attention – Stress limits our perceptions and narrows our attention. Our body kicks into fight or flight mode where we can focus only on one of those things. Smiling counteracts this and widens our attention again, opening us back up to multitasking and insights that come from the fringes of our perception and our subconscious.

8. Contagious – Around 50% of people smile back. This spreads the health benefits throughout those around you and it comes back to you several times as well. 9. Builds Attraction – Smiling makes people more attractive. This seems to be especially true for women. Men are more likely to approach a woman who smiles than one who simply makes eye contact while women aren’t necessarily drawn in by a smile alone. 10. Earns Success – A smile can appear confident, self-assured, and on top of your work. Those who smile are more likely to earn more money through tips and raises. They are more readily approached with business ideas and offered advancements.

And according to a number of experts - when you smile you look younger too!