My name, Lasya, refers to the dance that a Hindu goddess performed which expressed her happiness. After finding out that I am named after something that came out of joy, I was always eager to bring that same happiness to the people around me. The simplest way that I could do that would be by smiling. I love smiling, and you should too, for so many reasons. In this article, I'll tell you all about why I love smiling and the power of a simple smile.
1. Smiling is a natural stress-reliever
When you are feeling stressed, your heartbeat tends to increase rapidly. To combat this, so many people, including me, have invested in products that are supposed to relieve you are some of this stress. But many forget that they carry a natural stress-reliever right beneath their nose. A study done in 2015, published in Psychological science, found that smiling reduces your heart rate whenever you are feeling stressed. A simple smile can make you feel relaxed, who knew! Because smiling makes you feel relaxed, it also helps boost your immune system.
2. Your smile is contagious
Have you ever found yourself smiling back at a stranger for no reason? Well, that's because the part of your brain that deciphers someone else's facial expressions also determines your facial expression. That's why whenever you see someone smiling, you automatically reciprocate without knowing it yourself.
3. Even a fake smile can completely change your mood
Faking things is not the solution to many things, but it most definitely is to change your mood. A small fake smile can completely transform your spirit because of the muscles that you use to smile. When the brain recognizes that you are using the muscles that are associated with smiling it automatically think that you are genuinely happy. Because of this, the brain releases the endorphins, the happy hormones. Fun Fact: a study found that people who got botox and, therefore, were unable to frown are genuinely happier. So there's your life hack for the day, fake a smile for a couple of seconds and change your mood.
4. It may make someone else's day
In a study published in the journal Neuropsychologia they found that when someone sees someone else smiling, it activates their orbitofrontal cortex. The Orbitofrontal cortex is the part of your brain that processes sensory rewards. In other words, when someone sees someone else smiling, they start feeling rewarded and better about themselves.
5. It's free!
Honestly smiling is something that doesn't cost you anything ( and who doesn't like a bargain). It's so strange to think that something that doesn't cost anything can bring so many beautiful things into your life. That you can make your day, or a strangers day without putting in any effort. That you can meet new people and start new relationships with a simple smile. That you can start looking at the world with a whole new perspective. It's crazy that the cause of all of this is right beneath your nose!
* * *
These are just a few reasons why smiling is so amazing. One thing that I find so sad in today's time is that people are so absorbed in all the negative things that happen in their life. Everyone is so stressed about trying to figure out what to do next, or a silly mistake that they did, that they forget to let go and smile. So this is for everyone out there who needs some more reasons to let go and smile! In the words of the great Charlie Chaplin, "You'll find that life is still worthwhile if you just smile."
