Summary

The article emphasizes the health benefits of smiling, suggesting it as a simple daily habit to improve mood and overall well-being.

Abstract

The article "This Daily Habit Will Boost Your Mood and Improve Your Health" published on September 1, 2022, as part of a writing challenge, underscores the power of smiling as a natural mood enhancer and health booster. It cites research indicating that adults smile significantly less than children, averaging only 20 smiles a day compared to 400 as kids. The author, Judy Walker, supported by Dr. Earlexia Norwood, M.D., advocates for the physiological benefits of smiling, such as the release of cortisol and happy endorphins, which can lower blood pressure, reduce pain, and alleviate stress. The article also suggests a practical tip for those who struggle to smile: holding a pencil between one's teeth to activate the brain's emotional center. Walker provides a personal list of 20 smile-inducing experiences, ranging from hearing a loved one's nickname to the smell of fresh coffee, and invites readers to share what brings a smile to their faces.

Opinions

Smiling is presented as an underrated yet effective way to improve one's health and mood.
The author expresses empathy towards adults who smile less frequently, suggesting that life's stresses may be a contributing factor.
The article posits that even a forced smile can trigger the brain's emotional center and lead to genuine happiness.
Walker implies that simple, everyday experiences can be a source of joy and smiles.
The inclusion of personal anecdotes and the invitation to readers to share their own smile-inducing moments suggest a belief in the universality of smiling as a positive human experience.
The author seems to hold a positive view of the interconnectedness of physical health and emotional well-being, with smiling serving as a bridge between the two.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2022-WRITING CHALLENGE

This Daily Habit Will Boost Your Mood and Improve Your Health

It’s something you were born to do

No, it’s not having earth-moving sex with your beloved, although that will help. It’s not eating a well-balanced diet, or avoiding alcohol — and yes, these choices are great, too. It’s not riding your bike through the mountains or running a marathon.

The simplest way to boost your mood and improve your health is to smile.

Statistics show that when you and I were little kids, we smiled as frequently as 400 times a day. That’s 28 smiles an hour (taking into account 10 hours of slumber time). Compare this with a typical adult who smiles an average of 20 times in a day. I feel pity for us all.😞

What happened to make us stop smiling? Is life getting us down? Stress? Traffic? Our mean-old boss?

I’m here to tell you, along with Earlexia Norwood M.D, that smiling is the magic bullet to your ailing mood. It boosts cortisol and happy endorphins in our bodies, which in turn reduces blood pressure, pain, and stress. And to top it off, a daily dose of smiling increases endurance and adds some muscle to our immune system.

Still not convinced? If you simply can’t bring yourself to lift those corners, tuck a pencil between your teeth for five minutes.

A couple of smart fellows at the University of South Australia concluded that forcing our facial muscles into a smiling position activates the emotional centre of the brain. Once the prompt is received, happy neurotransmitters are out of the gate. It’s a simple hack that packs a mighty punch.

Prompted by Nancy Blackman over at Refresh the Soul, here is a list of 20 things — in no particular order — that bring a smile to my face.

Hearing my beloved call me Judy Bell makes me smile.
Seeing three-year-olds run.
A stranger smiling at me makes me smile.
Daisies make me smile.

Image of the author among daisies taken by a friend.

Sliding under cool sheets in the summer.
Cuddling up next to my beloved’s warm body in the winter.
Looking at photos of my children when they were munchkins.
Head-bumps from my cat, Max.
Coming upon a rebel blossom bursting out of a waning tomato planter.

A blossom peeking out from a tomato planter — Photo credit: Author

Listening to Jason Mraz’s song, Look for the Good.
Seeing bees on blossoms makes me smile.
Church bells ringing.
Watching squirrels chase each other around a tree trunk.
Seeing mama goose lead her goslings across the road.
Gnome gardens make me smile.
Seeing pictures inside clouds.

A cloud dove above Manitou Lake — Photo credit: Author

The smell of freshly brewed coffee while I’m still snug in bed. (And three more that are a little unorthodox and make me smile nonetheless.)
Finding a toilet when I really, really need one. 😏
Having a loved one scratch an unreachable itch on my back.
And orgasms, of course.

And a bonus smile comes from coming up with twenty things that make me smile.

What makes you smile? Pop down to the comments. I’d love to know. And remember, a smile lets your teeth breathe.

This post is in response to a 30-day writing challenge at Refresh the Soul.

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