Take two minutes to think about this: how often do you smile a day? Do you smile when you see your friends or meet new people? Did you know that your face has 44 muscles in it that allow you to make more than 5,000 different types of expressions? It is very easy to focus on the negatives in life instead of the positives. A simple gesture such as a smile can not only brighten other peoples’ day, but yours as well. Here are 8 reasons why you should smile more every day.

1. Smiling reduces stress, anxiety & depression.

Research shows that when recovering from a stressful situation, study participants who were smiling had significantly lower heart rates than those with a neutral face expression. So, the next time you’re feeling stressed, calm yourself down by smiling.

2. Smiling releases endorphins.

It is amazing how facial expressions have the ability to not only communicate our current mood, but also influence our mood as well. Smiling sends a message to your brain signaling that you are happy. When you are happy, your body release endorphins, AKA chemicals that trigger a positive feeling in the body.

3. Smiling makes you appear to be more approachable, confident and attractive.

Whether you are in a professional or casual setting, smiling people come across as more likable and friendly. For instance, in the restaurant industry, smiling employees impact their customers is a more positive way, and the customers leave interactions feeling more satisfied their overall experience.

4. Smiling lengthens our lives.

According to a 2010 Wayne State University research project that examined baseball card photos of Major League players in 1952, the span of a player’s smile could actually predict the span of his life. Players who didn’t smile in their pictures lived an average of only 72.9 years, while players with beaming smiles lived an average of 79.9 years.

5. Smiling improves your immune system.

This may seem crazy, but smiling even makes your immune system stronger. When you smile, your body produces white blood cells to help fight illnesses in your body. Amazing.

6. Smiling is a universal means of communication.

In essence, a smile is one of the most basic expressions of all humans. Some basic emotions communicated through facial expressions are recognizable by most cultural groups, and a smile is one of them.

7. It's contagious!

No matter what, smile at strangers, pets, colleagues and friends. Smile because it is very difficult to frown when looking at some who smiles. We also have a subconscious innate drive to smile when we see one. Who knows, they just might smile back at you.

8. Smiles are free.

As a college student, I understand that we are all on a budget. I also know that college students love free things. With that being said, it is important to note that smiling it costs $0. That’s right, its f-r-e-e free!

In all, the more we train our brain to think positively, the easier it is to shut out negativity, and, in turn, boost your productivity and creativity, which allows you to perform better at work and life. If you smile often enough, you end up rewiring your brain to make positive patterns more often than it does make negative ones.

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