I feel like everyone is in need of a smile. I know I am! There is something that is so raw and contagious about seeing others smile. The more I looked through some of our images, the more I was intrigued by the actual science of a smile. What makes us smile and what effect does smiling have on us?
smiling with eyes. photo: @jkf_man
Research is a wonderful thing and there is plenty of research when it comes to the smile. Delightfully it is all extremely positive. In finding some good smiles in imagery of past, present and future, I genuinely can’t help but smile, really smile, with true contagion and a wave of endorphins.
So what is the true power of the smile and which smile has the best effect? Is it a smile with the eyes, the cheeks, the mouth alone, or to show sincerity, contentment, excitement, joy, kindness, exhilaration and more? The benefits, it seems, are great across them all.
contagious cheerfulness. photo: @jkf_man. model: Bola
Smiling makes us feel really good. It has health benefits, inflicts happiness on those around us and makes us look younger! We were born to smile. In fact we actually smile in the womb and in our sleep as a young babe. So, it is life that teaches us not to smile and with this in mind we can also train ourselves to smile more! This is a satisfying truth.
kindness and delight.photo: @jkf_man. model: @beckyfrench_ @turnbull_asser
According to the well-known smile expert Ron Gutman, Darwin states that the act of smiling itself actually makes us feel better rather than smiling being merely a result of feeling good.Smiling releases endorphins, natural painkillers, and serotonin, three neurotransmitters that make us feel good from head to toe. These natural chemicals elevate our mood, relax our body and reduce physical pain. Consider smiling a natural drug.
Gutman goes on to state that one single smile is as stimulating to our brain as eating 2000 bars of chocolate or winning £16000 pounds. Wow!
beautiful smile.photo: @janelookerphotography. model: Ivy
The act of smiling actually helps the human immune system to function more effectively both by reducing stress and improving your immune function as a consequence of being relaxed. In today’s world this can only be a good thing.
companionship.photo: @jkf_man. models: Connor & Tarique.
Smiling is also said to make us all more attractive and is said to make us look more youthful. Cancel that face-lift and just try smiling your way through the day. The muscles we use to smile lift our faces, making us appear younger (andfeel better).
friendship.photo: @amiemilne.models: Aminat & Chiara
Make someone smile.
Finally, and importantly, you canpersonally reap the benefits of smiling, but you also have the power to affect those around you with the simple act of a smile. A smile is proven to be contagious whether it is offered to family, friends or even strangers. It costs nothing and does so much! If 2020 has taught us anything it is that community and family are vital to survival and a smile to a stranger may impact them in more ways than we could imagine. Testing my research, I smiled at a lady last week, whilst shopping for essentials, who then struck up a conversation with me and my son. We chatted for 15 minutes and as we said our farewells, she thanked us saying it is the longest conversation she has had with anyone since March! Now as I whinge about home-school and the uncompromising juggle that is my current circ*mstance, I feel blessed to have company, noise and mayhem surrounding me. With this in mind I have committed to smiling so hard that strangers can see it across my masked face, wrinkled in the eyes and with the power to conquer loneliness, soften heartache, evoke delight and change someone’s day for the good. As Mother Teresa states: “I will never understand all the good that a simple smile can accomplish.”
happiness.photo: @jkf_man.models:Kavya
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FAQs
Smiling increases mood-enhancing hormones while decreasing stress-enhancing hormones, including cortisol, and adrenaline. It also reduces overall blood pressure. And because you typically smile when you're happy, the muscles used trigger your brain to produce more endorphins—the chemical that relieves pain and stress.
What is the power of a smile? ›
It reduces stress and anxiety, boosts the immune system, improves relationships, increases self-confidence, enhances mood, and improves productivity. So, the next time you are feeling down, try smiling. Even if you do not feel like it, the act of smiling can have a positive impact on your well-being.
Why is a smile powerful? ›
Smiling releases endorphins, natural painkillers, and serotonin, three neurotransmitters that make us feel good from head to toe. These natural chemicals elevate our mood, relax our body and reduce physical pain. Consider smiling a natural drug.
How would you describe the act of smiling? ›
More Words to Describe a Smile
- amused - a smile showing something is funny.
- crooked - the type of smile showing crooked teeth or an awkward emotional state.
- knowing - a smile that shows the person understands something.
- mischievous - a playful and fun smile.
- quiet - a smile that communicates without words.
A smile has a holistic impact on our overall well-being. It promotes emotional well-being, reduces stress, improves our mood, and enhances our physical health. By smiling more often, we cultivate a positive mindset and contribute to our overall happiness and well-being.
Why smile is a powerful weapon? ›
SMILE is something which will change the situations, anger, tensions and improve relations. I think it is a very powerful thing to have. A genuine smile and a polite "Thank you" can solve most of the issues or can manage the situations before it gets out of hand.
What is the hidden power of smile? ›
Smiling helps to reduce stress-enhancing hormones. Smiling increases mood-enhancing hormones. Smiling makes you appear more likable, more polite, and more competent.
Why is smiling a superpower? ›
Smiling tends to trick the body into feeling better. The physical act of smiling actually activates neural messaging in your brain, boosting neuropeptides as well as mood- boosting neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. These can also help lower your blood pressure.
Why is a smile so valuable? ›
Smiling Elevates Our Mood
If you're having one of those days where everything seems to be going wrong, try putting on a smile. It's very likely that your mood will change for the better because smiling actually triggers brain activity with a release of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine.
What is the power hidden behind that smile? ›
Just as consciously smiling can make you feel happy, it can also counteract the negative feelings associated with being stressed or anxious. Along with the release of endorphins, your brain will send out signals to slow your breathing and reduce your heart rate, two processes which speed up when you feel stress.
The rarest smile style is the complex smile. It involves more active use of the three distinct muscle groups associated with smiling.
What does a smile symbolize? ›
A smile represents a natural reaction to joy, love, happiness, and general well being. Not only does smiling reflect happiness, it also triggers brain activity. The brain's left frontal cortex is the area of your brain that registers happiness and joy.
What is the psychology of smiling? ›
Those who smile or laugh often will tend to be happier, more energetic, and healthier. On the other end of the spectrum, a grumpy person may have an identity connected with feeling unloved, victimized, or marginalized. Smiling is also connected with having a peaceful existence with others.
How is a smile powerful? ›
Smiling increases mood-enhancing hormones while decreasing stress-enhancing hormones, including cortisol, and adrenaline. It also reduces overall blood pressure.
What is the power a smile has? ›
A simple smile can trigger the release of neuropeptides that improve your neural communication. It also causes the release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin, which can boost your mood. Think of smiling as a natural antidepressant.
What is the maximum power for smile? ›
The ReLEx SMILE procedure is mostly performed in cases of myopia, or nearsightedness, but it can also treat deformities like farsightedness and astigmatism. This technique can correct deformities of up to -10 diopters (unit to measure lens power) for nearsightedness.
What is the spiritual power of smiling? ›
In many spiritual traditions, smiling is seen as a way of connecting with the divine. It is believed that when we smile, we open ourselves up to receive blessings and positive energy from the universe. Smiling can also be a way of expressing gratitude and appreciation for the many blessings in our lives.
What is so special about the smile? ›
Mental Health Benefits of Smiling
Smiling releases endorphins, natural mood boosters, and reduces stress. Smiling also helps you appear more approachable and trustworthy, making people more likely to want to help you if you're struggling. So next time you're feeling low, don't be afraid to give smiling a try.
smiling with eyes. photo: @jkf_man
contagious cheerfulness. photo: @jkf_man. model: Bola
kindness and delight.photo: @jkf_man. model: @beckyfrench_ @turnbull_asser
beautiful smile.photo: @janelookerphotography. model: Ivy
companionship.photo: @jkf_man. models: Connor & Tarique.
friendship.photo: @amiemilne.models: Aminat & Chiara
happiness.photo: @jkf_man.models:Kavya
