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Fascinating Facts About Smiling

By Bridget
29 July 2016   |   2:09 pm
Ever heard that smile took something away from someone before? Hail no! It rather adds more to you. You have probably even experienced the benefits of smiling and laughter, but did you know that the simple act of smiling can boost your mood and even your immune system? I guess not. “An age old adage,…

Ever heard that smile took something away from someone before? Hail no! It rather adds more to you. You have probably even experienced the benefits of smiling and laughter, but did you know that the simple act of smiling can boost your mood and even your immune system? I guess not.

“An age old adage, which says ‘grin and bear it! – have suggested smiling to be not only an important nonverbal indicator of happiness but also a panacea for life’s stressful events,” says researcher Tara Kraft, a Doctoral candidate and Clinical Psychologist. Let’s examine some interesting facts about smiling below.

Life facts about smiling

Smiling costs nothing, but creates much.

It enriches those who receive, without impoverishing those who give.

It happens in a flash and the memory of it sometimes lasts forever.

Riches can’t do without it and even the poor appear richer for its benefits.

It creates happiness in the home, fosters good will in a business, and is the indorsement of friendships.

It is rest to the weary, daylight to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and Nature’s best antidote for trouble.

It cannot be bought, bagged, borrowed, or stolen, it just dishes proportionally according to demand.

Its bank doesn’t run dry; and it keeps giving without complaining

Nobody needs a smile so much as those who have none left to give, that’s the philosophy that overcomes!

Here are some fascinating scientific facts about smiles:

Smiling is contagious: It’s not just a saying, it is really contagious, scientists say. A report on this from Sweden research, showed that people had difficulty frowning when they looked at other subjects who were smiling, and their muscles twitched into smiles all on their own. So when someone is having a bad day, paying them a compliment with a smile won’t be such a bad idea. The double mood boosting effect will turn their day around for sure!

Smiles Relieve Stress: Your body immediately releases endorphins when you smile, even when you force it. This sudden change in mood will help you feel better and release stress. According to a research by Tara Kraft on whether smiling had scientific merit and could have real health-relevant benefits- using real life multi-tasking situations that were intentionally designed to be stressful, the participants’ heart rates were continuously monitored during and after each of the tasks. As a whole, the smilers had lower heart rates while recovering from the stressful tasks than those who had assumed neutral expressions, those who forced their smiles also recorded lower heart rates than the team who maintained neutral expressions.

So the next time you are stuck in traffic or are experiencing some other type of stress you might try to hold your face in a smile for a moment,” said Sarah Pressman, one of the researchers. “Not only will it help you ‘grin and bear it’ psychologically, but it might actually help your heart health as well.”

Smiles use from 5 to 53 facial muscles: Just smiling can require your body to use up to 53 muscles, but some smiles only use 5 muscle movements reports say.

Babies are born with the ability to smile: This one is very common, if you’ve actually been around new born babies. Babies learn a lot of behaviours and sounds from watching the people around them, but scientists believe that all babies are born with the ability, since even blind babies smile.

Smiling helps you get promoted: Smiles make a person seem more attractive, sociable and confident, and people who smile more are more likely to get a promotion.

Smiles are the most easily recognizable facial expression: People can recognize smiles from up to 300 feet away, making it the most easily recognizable facial expression.

Smiles are more attractive than makeup: A research study conducted by Orbit Complete discovered that 69% of people find women more attractive when they smile than when they are wearing makeup.

Babies start smiling as new-borns: Most doctors believe that real smiles occur when babies are awake at the age of four-to-six weeks, but babies start smiling in their sleep as soon as they’re born.

Feigning a genuine smile can boost your mood: Psychologists have found that even if you’re in bad mood, you can instantly lift your spirits by simulating (not fake, but choose to engage in) a genuine smile.

Credit: Laughteronlineuniversity.com & smithsonianmag.com.

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