Show notes
In this episode Joanne Williams, LCSW discusses 10 Reasons We Need to Smile- Make A Conscious effort to smile every day. Summary of today Podcast: Smiling Makes Us Attractive Smiling Relieves Stress Smiling Elevates Our Mood Smiling Is Contagious Smiling Boosts Your Immune System Smiling Lowers Your Blood Pressure Smiling Makes Us Feel Good Smiling Makes Us appear more Attractive. Smiling Makes You Seem Successful Smiling Helps You Stay Positive Question for today is? Can Smiling make me feel better? I love to Smile-I do this all the time and I feel I get positive response back from people. Especially babies. It is a fun test to play with. Smile at a baby at the supermarket and see their response. But the pandemic has required wearing a mask and it covers over smiles. So what can we do? Make an experiment and see if people respond to you under your mask smiling? Smile anyways under the mask and send them good thought and vibrations. Smiling Makes Us Feel Good. Studies have shown that smiling releases endorphins, natural painkillers, and serotonin. Together these three neurotransmitters make us feel good from head to toe. Not only do these natural chemicals elevate your mood, but they also relax your body and reduce physical pain. Many see smiling simply as an involuntary response to things that bring you joy or laughter. While this observation is certainly true, Countless scientific studies have shed light on how the act of smiling can elevate your mood and the mood of those around you. A strong link has been found between good health, longevity, and smiling. Most importantly, 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 wellbeing. Smiling Makes Us Attractive you can use the attraction power of your smile to draw people in. We are naturally drawn to people who smile. There is a real physical attraction factor linked to the act of smiling. Smiling Relieves Stress Believe it or not, smiling can reduce stress even if you don't feel like smiling or even know that you're smiling! When you are stressed, take the time to put on a smile. You and those around you will reap the benefits. Stress can permeate our entire being, and can really show up in our faces. Smiling not only helps to prevent us from looking tired, worn down, and overwhelmed but can actually help reduce stress. Smiling Elevates Our Mood Smiling can trick the body into helping you elevate your mood because the physical act of smiling actually activates neural messaging in your brain. Next time you are feeling down, try putting on a smile. There's a good chance your mood will change for the better. Smiling can trick the body into helping you elevate your mood because the physical act of smiling actually activates neural messaging in your brain. A simple smile can trigger the release of neural communication boosting neuropeptides as well as mood-boosting neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. Think of smiling like a natural anti-depressant. Smiling Is Contagious Smiling not only has the power to elevate your mood, but it can also change the moods of others and make things happier. How many smiles have been described as having the power to lighten up the room? While it is certainly a beautiful sentiment, it carries a hint of truth. Smiling not only has the power to elevate your mood, but it can also change the moods of others and make things happier. The part of your brain that is responsible for your controlling the facial expression of smiling is an unconscious automatic response area. Meaning that smiling can be completely unconscious, particularly when it comes to our habit of mimicking another person's smile. Yes, it is scientifically proven that smiles are "contagious!" Smiling Boosts Your Immune System The act of smiling actually helps the human immune system to function more effectively. Smiling can also boost your overall health. The act of smiling actually helps the human immune system to function more effectively. It is thought that when you smile, immune function improves because you are more relaxed (thanks to the release of certain neurotransmitters). In addition to taking precautions like washing your hands, why not try to prevent the cold and flu by smiling? 6. Smiling Lowers Your Blood Pressure-Try this one yourself When you smile, there is a measurable reduction in your blood pressure. Give it a try if you have a blood pressure monitor at home. Sit for a few minutes, take a reading. Then smile for a minute and take another reading while still smiling. Do you notice a difference? Smiling Makes Us Feel Good Studies have shown that smiling releases endorphins, natural painkillers, and serotonin. Together these three neurotransmitters make us feel good from head to toe. Not only do these natural chemicals elevate your mood, but they also relax your body and reduce physical pain. Smiling is a natural drug. Smiling Makes Us appear more Attractive. Not only can smiling make you more attractive it can also make you look more youthful. The muscles we use to smile also lift the face, making a person appear younger. So instead of opting for a facelift, just try smiling your way through the day—you'll look younger and feel better. 9. Smiling Makes You Seem Successful Studies have shown that people who smile regularly appear more confident, are more likely to be promoted, and are more likely to be approached. Try putting on a smile at meetings and business appointments. You might find that people react to you differently. 10. Smiling Helps You Stay Positive Try this test: Smile. Now try to think of something negative without losing the smile. It's hard, isn't it? Even when a smile feels unnatural or forced, it still sends the brain and ultimately the rest of our body the message that "Life is Good!" Stay away from depression, stress, and worry by smiling. How can you bring a smile to your face or find things in your day to be grateful for. No matter what. Do it for the next week to add 1 step to having in a happier life right now, So check them out too. Anxiety Simplified on iTunes and on my You tube channel named "Anxiety simplified Podcast" has the videos of the podcast, that teaches skills. AND you can easily see my podcast at my website AnxitySimplified.net Our next podcast: Patience and Resilience to have a Happy Thanksgiving. Join the Conversation Our favorite part of recording is answering your questions, from Facebook at AnxietySimplified5. Leave comments in the comment section, we will answer on a Podcast on that subject. So, listen for your question. Or share it with someone who may be helped with that answer.