You’ve got to get up every morning
With a smile in your face
And show the world all the love in your heart
Then people gonna treat you better
You’re gonna find, yes you will
That you’re beautiful, as you feel

Lyrics from Beautiful by Carole King

These lyrics above may bring to mind an image of a 70’s music festival where everyone “loves” each other and all is right with the world.  Actually, this Carole King song was originally released in 1971 and the world was 2 years post-Woodstock but currently experiencing inflation at 4.3%, Voting age had just been lowered to 18 in the US and the Vietnam War, Pentagon Papers and London Post Office Tower bombing were the hot news stories.  Not exactly the kind of environment where you want to “Get up every morning with a smile on your face and show the world all the love in your heart”.

Since 1971 this song has been covered by many top musicians including a tribute at the

MusiCares event by Sara Bareilles, Jason Mraz, Zac Brown and Raining Jane.

Even in the 70’s without the help of scientific research and university studies, King understood that smiling was a way to elevate your mood as well as the mood of those around you.

In the last 20 years we’ve begun to get a grip on why smiling makes us happier.  Our facial expression does more than communicate to the world if we woke up on the right side of the bed this morning.  Emotions originate in the brain but your face muscles can actually transform those emotions.

Here are 5 reasons why showing those pearly whites can make a difference.

1.  Fake smiles can change your mood.

Some experts have discovered that even if your current mood isn’t the smiling kind, you can change that mood by faking a smile.  That forced smile even for just a short time, can still make you feel better.  Read on the understand why.

2.   Reduces stress.

In a 2012 study be the journal of Psychological Science, 170 people were asked to hold chopsticks in their mouths forcing some of them to smile in the process.  The results showed that those who smiled (even though unrelated to emotion) had reduced heart rate and quicker stress recovery.  Healthy Living 2015

3.  You appear more trustworthy and approachable.

Service and advertising industries have lots of supporting data that concludes people who smile make those around them more comfortable and satisfied with the service they receive.  They also seem more approachable than someone who isn’t smiling or wears a frown.

4.  Smiling is contagious and helps retrain your brain.

I recently did a personal experiment while running errands in my home town.  Everywhere I encountered others, I simply smiled at them.  Amazing things happened – they smiled back and seemed to walk a little taller and with more confidence than before.

Can smiling at others actually convey self-esteem and value?  I say it can!  Think about the last time you greeted your friend or spouse with a big smile and warm hello.  Most everyone loves to feel accepted and smiling is one of the ways we accept others into our world.

A Smile Say’s:

  • I’m glad to see you
  • Welcome
  • You’re interesting
  • I want to spend some time with you (even if it’s just a 1-2 second glance)
  • You are “Smile Worthy”, you have value in my world

Of course, the opposite is also true:

A Frown or Neutral Expression Says:

  • I have other priorities besides you
  • You don’t matter
  • You’re disturbing my world
  • You’re not important

4.  You get a brain boost (from the love in your heart).

When you smile, wonderful things happen in your brain.  You have a release of the neurotransmitter dopamine commonly associated with rewards.  I like getting little rewards throughout the day – easy as a smile.

Tweet

“Get up every morning with a smile on your face, and show the world all the love in our hearts.”

Carole King

 

So let’s, do an experiment yourself.  One day this week, consciously smile at 5 people you don’t know and see what happens.  Let us know your results in the comments box below.