THE SCIENCE OF SMILES: HOW LAUGHTER AND JOY IMPACT YOUR WELLBEING

ORIGIN:

It was about 30 million years ago, that smiling originated. Primatologist Signe Preuschoft observed that monkeys and apes, at that time, slightly clenched their teeth to emote their harmlessness to predators. The expression on their faces depicted what, we now know, as a smile. A smile makes everything right.

“It seems to me that what we call beauty in a face lies in the smile”

Leo Tolstoy

Significance of Smiling

Smiling is something we all do, some do more and some do less. Smiling is contagious, but in a good way, of course! You know, a way to feel good is to smile, the more the smiles, the better you feel. It has been scientifically researched that smiling increases the flow of mood-enhancing chemicals in our body that relax us. With the stressful lives we lead, it becomes all the more imperative that we smile often. As the saying goes “Laughter is the best medicine”, so also a smile is an integral part of that medicine.

“Everyone smiles in the same language”- George Carlin. Smiling is universal and irrespective of sex, caste, creed, gender, language or nationality. It is the bridge that connects us to others, be it strangers, fellow travelers, family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances, animals, birds, anyone and everyone! Smiling helps us connect with others.

BENEFITS: Smiling your way to a healthy you

The act of smiling releases the happy hormones – dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin, which signal our body when we feel happy, thereby making us happier. Smiling has been known to improve our physiological and mental well-being too:

Lifespan: Smiling enhances our lifespan and we tend to live longer.
Stressbuster: Smiling reduces stress and we become relaxed and calm.
Mood: Smiling elevates our mood and we feel so much better when we smile.
Immunity: Smiling is known to boost immunity levels as we are mentally happier, with low stress, and therefore our immunity is boosted.
Blood pressure: Smiling may also aid in lowering blood pressure to some extent, as our stress levels are reduced.
Cardiovascular health: Smiling is good for our cardiovascular health as it lowers our heart rate in times of stress.
Pain: Smiling may also reduce our aches and pains, as it relaxes our body.
Attractive: Smiling makes us attractive and also look more youthful.
Success: Smiling is associated with success as it denotes confidence and makes us more approachable.
Positivity: Smiling increases our feeling of positivity and confidence. When we smile, it sends a message to our brain that “Life is good” thereby spreading the positivity to the rest of our body. This relaxes us and makes us feel good.
Relationships: Smiling improves our interpersonal relationships as we are more approachable.

Psychological Benefits

Smiling, laughing, and being happy help our immune system to function better by way of reducing stress and relaxing our mind and body. According to Psychology, a smile is all it takes to uplift your mood. It is believed that the left cortex of our brain is the part that triggers happiness which in turn is stimulated by a smile, leading to the release of endorphins that make us calm and relaxed.

“ A simple smile. That’s the start of opening your heart and being compassionate to others"

The Dalai Lama

Try this experiment: Smile at your fellow traveller on the train smile at the person walking towards you on the street or smile at the adjacent vehicle driver, and see what happens! They will smile right back at you! That is the power of the smile, that connects strangers.

“Just smiling at someone walking down the street can make the person’s day. It’s all about paying it forward” – Mariska Hargitay.

Bridge the gaps with smiling

With the advent of technology, when we are glued to some electronic device or the other, personal interactions are greatly reduced. We need to spread the cheer around that will reduce the unhappiness or negativity around us. We need to motivate and inspire others so that we can all live in peace and harmony. Smiling bridges all the gaps, and the best part: it is free! No subscription or WIFI is required.

You must have encountered that one person, looking at whom you feel so happy and positive! These are the people who are always smiling and happy and radiating positivity. Just looking at them makes you feel so good. They are the ones who are living life to the fullest despite all the hurdles that they may be encountering. We need to learn from them.

The next time you are wallowing in self-pity, smile and see how strong you feel. This strength will help you overcome your hurdles and increase your self-esteem.

“Someday, everything will make perfect sense. So, for now, laugh at the confusion, smile through the tears, be strong, and keep reminding yourself that everything happens for a reason” – John Mayer.

Smile for Compassion and Confidence

Happiness or joy or smiling is better felt than explained in words. It is a feeling like no other. It invokes a sense of confidence in us and makes us feel good about ourselves. The positivity makes the atmosphere around us festive, with a feeling of goodness. The air is filled with good vibes and we feel so relaxed. With a calm mind, our productivity increases and so does our income. We become compassionate to others as we endeavor to make them smile and forget their pain/misery. Maybe we can offer them a solution to ease them out of their unfavorable situation.

Smile and the world smiles with you

In this strife-ridden world, we need more smiles. So don’t be miserly with your smiles, rather give them to one and all. Try to feel the joy in all that life has to offer us. Laugh out loud at jokes, lighten the atmosphere in a tense situation at work, do little things that bring smiles/joy to others, and make your life meaningful. Happiness is bliss, so be happy and make others smile.

The laughter clubs, where a group of people laugh out loudly while bringing their arms up in the air, are commendable. These are a good example of physical exercise that manages emotional well-being too. Let us not take life too seriously, rather keep it simple. We will be happier that way. So “smile and the world smiles with you”.