It's so easy, anyone can do it! It's attached to you here on your face. There are 43 muscles to use, just gotta put 'em in the right place. If we can do it, so can you. Tooth by tooth, row by row. When you let your happy through, then the whole room starts to glow. Twist that frown upside down. You gotta twist that frown . . . .Up-up-up-upside down - Maia Mitchell
The Act of Smiling
So what in the world does 'turning your frown upside down' have to do with health? Science has actually shown that the mere act of smiling can lift your mood, lower stress, boost your immune system and possibly even prolong your life. How cool is that?
Dr. Isha Gupta, a neurologist from IGEA Brain and Spine, explains a smile sets off a chemical reaction in the brain, releasing certain hormones like dopamine and serotonin. Dopamine increases feelings of happiness while serotonin release is associated with reduced stress. Having low levels of serotonin and dopamine are associated with depression.
Fake It Till You Make It
The great news is, smiling can trick your brain into believing you're happy which can then spur actual feelings of happiness. And just the physical act of smiling can help build your immunity.
Dr. Murray Grossan, an ENT-otolaryngologist in Los Angeles discusses the science of psychoneuroimmunology (the study of how the brain is connected to the immune system) and states that it has been shown that depression weakens your immune system, while happiness boosts the body's resistance. So, bottom line, the brain is a sucker for a grin. It doesn't bother to sort out whether you're smiling because you're joyous or because you're just pretending .
Other studies show more reasons to keep on smiling. Researchers at the University of Kansas found that smiling helps reduce the body's response to stress and lower heart rate in tense situations; while yet other studies linked smiling to lower blood pressure and to longevity.
Happiness is Contagious
The ability to smile and laugh also helps us shift our perspective to something more positive in stressful times. It helps us see tough or challenging situations in a new light and allows us to begin to feel less overwhelmed and therefore happier.
Smiling and laughter are contagious. Laughter is mediated by social interaction and contexts. When we see someone else happy, we become happy too. Smiles, laughter and happiness support emotional connections with others.
The simplest way to live a happier, healthier life is to laugh and smile more. Creating more opportunities for laughter and smiling allows you to flourish as a person. Day-to-day life becomes more relaxed, positive, balanced and creative; and provides our bodies and minds with the necessary recharges required.
Smile & Laughter Ideas
Go for a fast pace walk or jog
Take a Zumba class with a friend.
Go to the park and watch children play.
Look through your old pictures.
Start a gratitude journal.
Read the comics
Call an old friend and say, Hi.
Compliment someone.
Go to the zoo.
Play with your pet.
Donate some old clothing to charity.
Bake a cake for your neighbor.
Send someone a thank-you note.
Enjoy the beautiful sunset.
Go dancing.
Tell a child you are proud of them.
Make a home made gift and give it.
Get out the old hula hoop.
"The key to being happy is knowing you have the power to choose what to accept and what to let go." - Dodinsky
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