10 Reasons to Smile & Keep Smiling
🕒 Last Updated on June 14, 2022
10 Reasons to Smile & Keep Smiling…
Let’s talk about smiling and why it is so good for us.
I’m not sure about you, but the greatest thing I can do when I’m having a terrible day is grin. It may sound cheesy, but it’s true! Smiling has a variety of advantages that are worth taking some extra time to practice.
In this blog, we shall explore the science behind the act of smiling and the benefits for both mind and body. We shall take it one step further and discuss why it is so important to learn to smile even when you are feeling down.
Finally, selected thought-provoking smile quotes will be provided to keep you smiling. Let’s dive in.
The Science Behind Smiling
Did you know that about 43 muscles in our face are working to create a smile at any given moment?
Dr. Paul Ekman, the professor of psychology who has become the world’s most famous face reader has proven it by his research tool called FACS or Facial Action Coding Systema.
Studies have shown that just the act of smiling (making the physical facial shapes and movements), whether the result of real joy or an act, can have both short- and long-term benefits on people’s health and well-being.
In fact, according to Dr. Isha Gupta a neurologist from IGEA Brain and Spine, explains that smiling stimulates a chemical reaction to take place in your brain where dopamine and serotonin are released.
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“Dopamine increases our feelings of happiness and serotonin release is associated with reduced stress,” said Dr. Gupta.
So basically, smiling spurs a chemical reaction in your brain to make you think you are happy.
Still not convinced?
How Smiling Benefits Your Mind and Body
But it doesn’t end there. Dr. Murray Grossan, an ENT-otolaryngologist in Los Angeles, points to the science of psychoneuroimmunology (the study of how the brain is connected to the immune system), asserting that it has been shown “over and over again” that depression weakens your immune system, while happiness, on the other hand, has been shown to boost our body’s resistance.
Or in other words, smiling translates to increased happiness which translates into strengthening our body’s immune system.
There are also so many other benefits of how smiling is simply practicing good health with your mind and body. They include the following:
- Smiling Relieves Stress
- Smiling Boosts Your Immune System
- Smiling Lowers Your Blood Pressure
- Smiling Reduces Body Pain & Aches
- Smiling Releases the ‘Feel-Good’ chemicals of Endorphins and Serotonin
- Smiling Makes You Look Younger!
Why You Should Smile Even When Feeling Down
Have you ever been told to lighten up and smile? It’s probably not the most welcome advice, especially when you’re feeling ill, fatigued, or just down in the dumps.
However, there is good cause to turn that frown upside down. As reiterated above, there is indisputable proof that smiling does indeed improve your mood, reduces anxiety, boosts your immune system, and even extends your life.
Did you know that smiling can actually trick your brain into thinking it is really happy?
I know it sounds hard to believe, but it is true that you can smile and be happy when you are in the throes of depression or anxiety.
Yes… forcing a fake smile can legitimately reduce stress and lower your heart rate and make you feel better instantly… How?
As referenced above, Dr. Isha Gupta states “Low levels of serotonin are associated with depression and aggression. Low levels of dopamine are also associated with depression.” So, in turn, when you ‘smile’, you ‘increase’ your levels of dopamine and serotonin and there you have it!
You can instantly cheer yourself up and start feeling better and happier.
The bottom line is this… you ‘can’ make the conscientious decision to smile with the result being nothing less than positive!
Yes, I Can Make You Instantly Feel Better!
Try This 5 Minute Instant Happiness Experiment!
I came across this method of how one can instantly feel better when experiencing a down day or simply finding themselves depressed. It employs all the scientific things just presented above.
I guarantee it works! Here is what you do:
- Where ever you are… stop what you’re doing.
- Stand Up.
- Walk outside (your balcony, back yard, front door… whatever). It’s important to be outside in nature.
- Now while standing there, look up. Look at the sky, the clouds, the trees, whatever surrounding you.
- And while you’re looking up… I want you to smile. I want you to smile as big of a grin as you can. Don’t stop smiling, this is very important.
- I want you to intentionally and on purpose ‘continue to smile for 2 full minutes.’
- While you’re smiling, I want you to then close your eyes and think of 3 things you are grateful for.
- After approximately 2 minutes or so, you can stop smiling.
- Go back to what you were doing before.
Now I ask you, do you not feel more energized, happy and ready to tackle your day!
Top 10 Reasons To Smile & Keep Smiling
There are countless reasons to smile. Here are 10 of the top reasons to smile:
1. Smiling is Contagious
You know when you see someone walking down the street with a big, beautiful smile plastered on their face and you can’t help but smile back?
Smiles are contagious! When we see other people smiling, it’s a natural human reaction to mimic their expressions.
In turn, studies have shown that when we smile, those around us are more likely to smile as well, creating an upward spiral of happiness and positivity. For example, I bet that every single time you have seen a ‘baby’ smile or giggle, you reciprocated right back! Am I right or am I right!
2. Smiling Makes You More Attractive
When we smile, we not only look more attractive but we also come across as more friendly, approachable, and trustworthy.
A genuine smile communicates our joy, happiness, and sincerity and people are naturally drawn to those who exude these qualities.
3. Smiling Lifts Your Mood
As reiterated above, smiling has been shown to instantly lift our moods by releasing endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals.
So next time you’re feeling down, try putting on a big smile and see if it doesn’t make you feel just a little bit better.
4. Smiling Reduces Stress
When we smile, we activate the release of a stress-reducer known as neuropeptides that work toward fighting off stress.
So smiling not only reduces the levels of stress hormones like cortisol in our bodies but it also helps to combat the effects of stress including anxiety, high blood pressure, and headaches.
5. Smiling Is Good Exercise
Believe it or not, smiling is actually good exercise for our facial muscles. Remember we employ 40+ muscles in our face and jaw muscles. They need a workout too!
Smiling strengthens the muscles in our face and improves our skin health by increasing blood flow and oxygenation.
6. Smiling Makes You Look Younger
Because smiling is a form of exercise for our facial muscles, it can also help to keep our skin looking toned and elastic, making us look younger.
So smiling really is the fountain of youth!
7. Smiling Relieves Pain
Smiling has been shown to reduce pain by releasing those same endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers.
So if you’re in pain, try smiling and see if it doesn’t help you feel just a little bit better.
8. Smiling Can Extend Your Life
Because smiling boosts our immune system and reduces stress, it has also been shown to increase our lifespan.
9. Smiling Can Go Viral
Just like yawning, when you smile, it, in turn, makes others smile. It creates a domino effect. There’s another way to smile you know! It’s via social media. You can literally use ‘texting’ or other social media ‘messaging’ using the all too familiar ‘Smiley Face’ icon! And I guarantee you, ask to be shared and it will go viral!😊
10. Smiling Improves Relationships & Encourages Leadership
Because smiling communicates our happiness and sincerity, it helps to improve our relationships with others. Smiling also conveys trust. You become approachable.
When we smile at someone, they are more likely to smile back, creating a positive feedback loop that can help to improve even the most strained relationships.
What About Laughter?
What’s the difference between smiling and laughter you might ask.
A genuine smile is produced without us realizing it. A true laugh comes out without any thought. While we now know it takes 40+ muscles to smile, laughing also includes the abdominal and diaphragm, especially a ‘belly laugh’.
Laughter offers pretty much the same benefits as smiling. The difference being that smiling is more of a conscious act and laughter comes unexpectedly as a result of a situation or event occurring.
So both smiling and laughing have positive benefits for your body and well-being. So keep smiling and keep laughing…
35 Reasons to Smile Quotes
Prepare to grin and smile big when you see some of these entertaining smile sayings. These 35 were specially selected for you.
Quotes 1 Through 17
“A smile is the light in your window that tells others that there is a caring, sharing person inside.”
Denis Waitley
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“I wake up every day with a smile on my face, thankful for what I have been able to achieve.”
Maria Sharapova
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“If you’re not using your smile, you’re like a man with a million dollars in the bank and no checkbook.”
Leslie Caron
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“People seldom notice old clothes if you wear a big smile.”
Lee Mildon
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“Smile, happiness looks gorgeous on you.” –
Zayn Malik
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“The greatest self is a peaceful smile, that always sees the world smiling back.”
Bryant H. McGill
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“Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.”
Mother Teresa
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“Because of your smile, you make life more beautiful.”
Thich Nhat Hanh
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“If we are always cheerful and smiling, then we can make other people around us happy too.”
Dalai Lama XIV
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“Wear a smile and have friends; wear a scowl and have wrinkles.”
George Eliot
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“If you have only one smile in you, give it to the people you love.”
Maya Angelou
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“I add a smile to everything I wear and that has helped me develop into the person I am today.”
Serena Williams
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“A smile is happiness you’ll find right under your nose.”
Tom Wilson
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“The greatest self is a peaceful smile, that always sees the world smiling back.”
Bryant H. McGill
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“Peace begins with a smile.”
Mother Teresa
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“It takes a lot of energy to be negative. You have to work at it. But smiling is painless. I’d rather spend my energy smiling.”
Eric Davis
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“Smile. Have you ever noticed how easily puppies make human friends? Yet all they do is wag their tails and fall over.”
Walter Anderson
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A smile is a facelift that’s in everyone’s price range!”
Tom Wilson
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Quotes 18-35
“Smile big. Laugh often. Never take this life for granted.”
Unknown
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“Smile at the obstacle, for it is a bridge.”
Medusa
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“A gentle word, a kind look, a good-natured smile can work wonders and accomplish miracles.”
William Hazlitt
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“Smiling is the best way to face every problem, to crush every fear and to hide every pain.”
Unknown
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“Life is like a mirror. Smile at it and it smiles back at you.”
Peace Pilgrim
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“A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.”
Phyllis Diller
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“You are somebody’s reason to smile.”
Unknown
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“A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.”
William Arthur Ward
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“Be the reason someone smiles. Be the reason someone feels loved and believes in the goodness in people.”
Roy T. Bennett
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“A smile costs nothing but gives much. It enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give. It takes by a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever.” –
NDTV
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“Your smile brightens the lives of all who see it. To someone who has seen a dozen people frown, scowl or turn their faces away, your smile is like the sun breaking through the clouds.”
Dale Carnegie
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“A smile is so sexy, yet so warm. When someone genuinely smiles at you, it’s the greatest feeling in the world.” –
Mandy Moore
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“Sometimes we’re gonna have our bad days, but we must continue to work to be great. Keep smiling. It looks beautiful on you!”
Demi Lovato
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“A beautiful smile without any reason is the smile of the existence!”
Mehmet Murat Ildan
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“I like to smile. I smile even when I’m nervous since it calms me down and shows my friendliness.”
Yani Tseng
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“Maman told me that every time you smile, a very tiny bit of the smile stays stuck to your face, so as you get older and older your face starts to show all the tiny bits of all your smiles and you look like you are smiling all the time.”
Claire King
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“A smile opens your heart!”
Beth Elkassih
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In Conclusion – Smile! Smile More! Don’t Stop Smiling!
Smiling is a great way to make yourself stand out while helping your body to perform at its best. So, smile to improve your health. Smile to reduce your stress level. Smile to improve your self-esteem and confidence.
Why? Because smiling is just a fun way to live. And it is free!’
😀😀😀
For additional inspirational thought-provoking quotes about happiness, life, and how to cope with everyday life struggles, please check out the following articles:
“How Inspirational Quotes & Mantras Can Make You Happy”
“Beautiful Blessings of Good Morning”
“The ‘Best’ Best Friends’ Messages”
