How can you benefit from smiling?
Someone once said so elegantly that, “Life is like a mirror; smile at it, and it smiles back at you.” It takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile, and while there’s no evidence to back that up, we do know that smiling has some real-world benefits. It’s not hard to do, especially after a long and stressful day. But if you can force yourself to smile, you’ll actually feel better.
It Releases the Endorphins!
To help fight stress, your brain releases tiny molecules called neuropeptides when you smile. Other neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins, also play a big role. Endorphins act as a mild pain reliever, while serotonin acts as an antidepressant. According to one study, smiling can help us reduce stress faster and lower our heart rate. In fact, it might be worth your time to put on a fake smile and see what happens. There’s some evidence that forcing a smile can actually improve your mood and happiness level. It only depends on you to find happiness no matter what is your current situation it will not last forever. So try to be happy and see the difference.
How to Make a Ripple Effect
It turns out that the advantages of smiling aren’t just for you; they can also benefit those around you. We’ve already discussed how our brains react when we smile, but when we see someone else smile, we’re rewarded as well! Our brain’s reward center is activated, making us feel a little better. Plus, according to one Swedish study, we can’t help but smile back when we see someone else smile, creating an all-out infectious happiness loop.
Be happy at the workplace
According to a study conducted by a group of economists, “human happiness has large and positive causal effects on productivity.” Humans appear to be energized by positive emotions, whereas negative emotions appear to have the opposite effect.” Another study linked the release of dopamine triggered by happiness to decision-making, processing, and learning, implying that smiling can make you a more creative and efficient worker.
If you’re already in a good mood, why not show off your whites to a stranger and spread the joy?
