Can simply turning up the corners of your mouth affect your lifespan, or change the world around you? Smiling is a universally recognised expression of happiness across all cultures, but not only does a smile come naturally from happiness, research proves that a smile can actually increase happiness.
"Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy."
- Thich Nhat Hanh
"If you smile you can change yourself, others and your future."
- Japanese proverb
"What can take away
All our inner poison?
Just one smile."
- Sri Chinmoy
Robert Zajonc is just one of many psychologists whose scientific research explains the fact that has been well-known through the ages. He says smiling leads to physiological changes in the brain, actually cooling the blood in the face, which in turn gives a feeling of happiness. Other research has shown that the very act of smiling releases more serotonin, the so-called 'happy chemical' in the brain. So, even a smile that starts out fake, could lead to genuine happiness. Psychologist Professor Diener, has found in his research on Subjective Well-Being that happy people live 9 years longer than depressed people, so it's well worth it!
So smiling is good for your health, but it is also infectious. A smile is one of the best gifts you can give someone, and it costs nothing at all. In this simple way we can spread happiness and harmony to the world around us, and the old Japanese proverb comes true!
More interesting facts about smiling
1. It's easier to smile than to frownit takes 43 facial muscles to create a frown, and only 17 to generate a smile (although you can use up to 53 for a really cheesy grin).
2. People are born with the smiling instinct; they don't learn it as a behaviour. Even blind babies smile.
3. Women smile more than men. (Could that be why they live longer?)
4. Research has recognised 18 particular types of smile used in various social situations.
5. If you smile, studies say you will be seen as more sincere, attractive, sociable, and competent.
6. Smiling makes you feel better due to release of seretonin
See also Smile Poems
Sumangali Morhal is a member of the Sri Chinmoy Centre in York. Sumangali enjoys writing prose and poetry and contributes to a website about the yoga of Sri Chinmoy http://www.yogaofsrichinmoy.com/
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