Benefits of Smiling
Benefits of Smiling
A smile is simple, effective and free. In Taoist philosophy the smile is seen as the gateway to health, happiness and longevity. The foundation practice of the inner smile draws on the simplicity of smiling into the internal body as a way to cleanse and balance the body. Read more about the Inner Smile meditation practice.
When you smile at someone, it encourages them to smile back at you through social mimicry. Smiling is seen as a way to cheer people up, to offer support, empathy and pass on positive emotions to others. How many people smile at you in the street, at work, on public transport? How many people walk around with scrunched up gloomy faces, subconsciously encouraging others to follow their lead.
How do you smile? Avoid social smiling which masks our real feelings and is an insincere way to manipulate a situation or hide our emotions. What is a Duchenne smile? This is a real smile, engaging the eye muscles and is triggered by positive emotions. How do you spot the difference between a positive emotion smile (Duchenne) vs a contrived (social) smile? Click here to find out.
A smile is linked to your emotions, the scientific study of this is connection between mind and body is called Psycho-neuro-immunology. “Psycho-neuro-immunology studies the interaction between psychological processes (thoughts, feelings, emotions) and the immune system and the nervous systems.” Michael Irwin, Kavita Vedhara (2005). Human Psychoneuroimmunology. Oxford University Press.
The human body responds to laughing and smiling in a positive way. One article on Psycho-neuro-immunology discusses how smiling and laughing causes contraction of the cheek muscles which opens the sinus passages, allowing blood flow into the brain which helps reduce stress and aid the healing process through appropriate blood flow, temperature and endorphin release. Read the full article at www.joyfulaging.com
“A well-known study of Duchenne smiles, conducted at the University of California, Berkeley, demonstrated the impact of smiling on life satisfaction. Participants expressing genuine positive emotions in their yearbook picture were more likely to be married and have higher well-being than their non-Duchenne smiling classmates. A study was replicated in Australia in 2006 and demonstrated similar results.” Excerpt from ‘Smile and Others Smile with You: Health Benefits, Emotional Contagion, and Mimicry’
It’s simple, for an all round positive lift, smile more
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