Secrets Behind The Mysterious & Magical Powers Of Smiles
How to harness the powers to always work for you
“I have witnessed the softening of the hardest of hearts by a simple smile.”
I don’t know about the hardest of hearts like Goldie Hawn observed in the quote above, but I have had my hostile stance immediately softened by a smile. Even though I believe I had every right to be mad at the time and the person that would have been at the receiving end of my anger would have deserved every bit of it.
There’s no escaping the power of some smiles.
A sweet, broad, beaming smile can work like magic. It has the power to power to instantly alter moods and change attitudes. The target of such a smile can be made to, even if temporarily, forget the aches and pains that trouble them.
The science
When you smile it triggers a chemical reaction in your brain. The brain releases certain hormones that are associated with increased feelings of happiness and lower levels of stress.
Also going by the science, smiles fall under two broad categories:
1. Genuine Smiles (a.k.a Duchenne smiles)
Named after French neurologist G. B. Duchenne, who while studying facial expressions in the 1800s discovered what he termed the “genuine” smile i.e the one that is spontaneous and reflects pure delight.
2. Fake Smiles (a.k.a social smile)
These can be forced smiles that are put out because the situation calls for it. Like a polite smile or a smile just to humor someone you are with. So they may not necessarily involve any deception as their categorization may imply. Also according to Duchenne, they are pulled off using totally different facial muscles than genuine smiles.
However, according to Ron Gutman author of “Smile: The Astonishing Powers of a Simple Act”, even a fake smile is capable of communicating. And as it turns out, your brain won’t know the difference and will release the feel-good chemicals nonetheless thereby making you, the smiler, just a little bit happier regardless.
Making it work for you
The good thing is whether it’s a spontaneous, from-the-heart beamer or a forced polite smile, it can still produce desirable effects. What follows are some of the many ways you can reap the benefits of smiles.
- To lighten the mood and ease any pressures felt in some social situations, a polite (even if forced) smile could immediately come in handy to keep things civil and moving on smoothly and productively. The smile shows you are interested in the interaction, and even if things are already going well, a smile won't hurt because it signals you are enjoying the interaction.
- Never stifle that heart-felt involuntary grin either. It will help you to live longer. Studies show that “genuine, intense smiling” is associated with a longer life span.
- Next time you want to light up a room, smile. Smiles are contagious. Their brains will automatically pick up on your expression and will even mimic it. They will find themselves smiling unconsciously.
- By smiling genuinely you get rid of that haggard worn-out look and you suddenly appear more attractive, friendly, competent, and trustworthy, among other things.
- By smiling, you can help build your immune system.
- By meeting people with nice, big toothy smiles you will signal to them your acceptance and that you appreciate their presence. This way you will put them at ease
- The next you are feeling down and need to give your mood a boost, let go of a nice big one. It could be all that you need for the lift you are looking for. As one study found smiling can make you a more creative and efficient worker.
A nice, big, toothy smile from deep down will always do wonders for you. Also, when the situation calls for it, that is whether you need a pick-me-up yourself or just want to pass on the vibes, a nice smile may be all that you need.
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