15 Surprising Reasons to Smile Each Day

Smiling is not just something that happens when you feel happiness or joy, but it is something that can be done voluntarily to produce powerful results. A simple smile has the power to change our mood and mindset as well as that of others around you. But how can something as simple and natural as smiling help us, and why should we try to cultivate the habit of smiling more often?

Why You Must Cultivate the Habit of Smiling More Often

There is no need to wonder what benefits a smile can bring to your body and mind, because here are some reasons why you should make it a habit of smiling more:

1. Makes You Look Attractive

One of the most obvious benefits of a smile is that it makes people look far more attractive when they smile. Smiling also makes you more approachable to others as you appear to be friendly if you are wearing a smile.

2. Boosts Mood

The advantages of a smile are that just as we involuntarily smile when we are happy, it works the other way round too! We can purposely smile so that our mood gets a boost and we feel a little happier as we go about our day. The next time you wake up feeling down, just smile and urge yourself on; pretty soon, you will be getting in the swing of things.

3. Relieves Stress

Studies show that smiling can help your heart rate go back to normal faster after you have been through a stressful situation. So, the next time you face something you find stressful, remember the scientific benefits of smiling and put on a big one so that your body goes back into a state of positive relaxation.

4. Boosts Immune System

When a person smiles, they go into a more relaxed mode which helps to boost their immune system, which means that it can have a direct impact on your health. Those who smile a lot also get sick less often than those who don’t. Whether it is to prevent a cold or the flu, smile as a way of keeping it at bay.

5. It Is Contagious

When a person sees you smile, it makes them smile too and vice versa, bringing with it all the benefits a smile gives to us. Our brain reacts to another person’s smile involuntarily and causes us to smile as well, so keep smiling and be one of the reasons other people’s days brighten up a little more.

6. Lowers Blood Pressure

When you laugh, your heart rate increases and is followed by your heart relaxing. This is good for those with high blood pressure as a genuine smile helps to lower it and leave you feeling healthier and happier.

7. Good Vibes

Smiling releases the neurotransmitters serotonin, endorphin and natural painkillers in our bodies, which is where the ‘feel good’ vibes come from. They are able to not only make you smile but are also able to reduce any pain you may have and help you to relax, ensuring a better day ahead.

8. Makes You Look More Youthful

Forget about getting face-lifts and using a lot of products to make yourself look younger – just put on a smile! It moves the muscles of your face upwards, making you look very attractive and much younger than you usually do.

9. Helps to Stay Positive

Though you may sometimes need to force a smile, it still helps to trick the brain into sending out ‘feel good’ vibes even if you aren’t all that happy. Your body will react to your smile, and eventually, your mood will catch on, and you will be able to have a more positive outlook on things.

10. Makes You Seem Successful

Smiling makes you more approachable and friendly in other people’s eyes. It also gives you the aura of confidence and satisfaction, which makes you stand out to other people – meaning it can also be the difference between getting that promotion or not.

11. Increases Trust

A genuinely broad smile will instil trust in the person who receives that smile. This is because a smile makes a person seem positive and friendly and makes it more likely that people will trust him. Your smile should not be a crazy grin, but just a friendly one that will do the trick.

12. Good for Leadership

As seen from above, smiling makes you more approachable, friendly and instils trust in people. Thus, it is a quality that every leader should have if he wants to gain the trust of his subordinates.

13. Promotes Longevity

Studies have shown that smiling helps you live longer. This is because it releases a few specific neurotransmitters that help boost the immune system that will also help you stay away from sickness, and thus, live longer.

14. Makes You Memorable

When you are wearing a genuine smile, you become more attractive to people, and they tend to remember you better than they would someone who wasn’t really smiling. Whether it is leaving your teachers, employers or co-workers with better memories of you and how you brightened up the atmosphere, or if it helps an interviewer remember you because of your smile, it will keep you in people’s memories.

15. Enhances Creativity

Studies have proven that those who wear a smile on their faces every day have better luck when it comes to getting creative to solve problems and complete tasks as they have a more positive mindset than others do.

Smiling is not something that takes much out of a person, and can be done by anyone. It doesn’t matter if you are not the type to naturally smile a lot like many other people – just keep smiling, and eventually, your feelings will catch up.

Also Read:

Ways to Tackle Stress in Everyday Life
Tips to Deal with Bad News
How to Be Optimistic in Life and Make Most of It