Enjoying health benefits of smiling & laughing while developing fake grins into a genuine smile as it turns to be a natural habit

Sometimes it’s difficult to smile especially when dealing with an officemate who is so arrogant to be managed on a daily basis, unconcerned behavior at home and school perhaps which basically spoil one’s day. Nonetheless, it pays off when making that arrogant fellow laughs, family members chuckle, schoolmate grins, despite their annoying display of attitude. Don’t you notice that when you smile at someone, she/he basically smiles back, which is something - the simple act that can transform the world around as it becomes contagious in the process. 

Smiling, laughing, and positive thinking have been shown to have a huge number of health benefits to both mind and body. Conversely, stress has been linked to a number of health problems, including heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity.

When exhausted, stressed or unhappy, the last thing the one that one feels like doing is cracking a smile or bursting into laughter. Nevertheless, scientific research unveils that smiling or laughing - even if pretending - can make human cheerier and healthier.

Health Benefits of Laughing and Smiling

1). Chemical reaction

When laughing, the body releases endorphins, the brain chemicals known as neurotransmitters, which make humans to feel happy. Also, they are a natural pain and stress reliever.

Laughing lowers levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, which provides human a fast burst of energy.

A good laugh can be beneficial to the lungs, boost immunity, and could even burn off calories.

Smiley, cheery people are thought to have more friends and be more unbeaten, by appearing more sure of themselves and friendly.

The movement of muscles in human’s face when smiling sends signals to the brain, which causes a release of chemicals known as endorphins and serotonini. Endorphins and serotonin boost one’s mood and makes feel happy. Even if one is not feeling particularly happy, fake a smile – and it will release endorphins and serotonin making feel happier and more stress-free. Endorphins are also the body's natural painkillers, and laughing or smiling can relieve pain for people as they tend to 'forget' about physical irritation.

2). Reduces stress hormones

Stress is a common problem in this contemporary world that causes an innumerable health troubles. Stress relief may be as simple as smiling a little more throughout the day, as it releases endorphins that work against and reduce stress hormones.

Cortisol and catecholamines are hormones that are released in response to nerve-racking situations. When endorphins are released as a result of feeling happy, cortisol and catecholamines are lessened, comparable to the effect of moderate physical exercise. Laughing can also affect the appetite-related hormones leptin and ghrelin, hence laughing could also help decrease hunger pains.

3). Strengthens the body on a cellular level.

Just as this happy facial expression helps rid the body of stress, smiling can release tension on a cellular level as well. Cells can distinguish between safety and danger, find and repair problems and create an overall sense of balance within the body. Human thoughts have a direct effect on cell function. Smiling reduces the rigidness of human cells, and this physical relaxation can help combat the risk of stress-induced cell mutations that can lead to the development or continuity of different cancers.

4). Relaxes the muscles and protects the heart

Smiling reduces heart rate and relaxes the body, allowing the heart to work without overworking. Individuals who smile and laugh often are less likely to acquire heart disease. It also temporarily lowers blood pressure.

Laughter can cleanse lungs, in a comparable mode to deep-breathing, and replenishes oxygen and nutrient levels throughout the body. A strong, cheerful laugh can relieve tension, relaxing the muscles for up to 45 minutes.

Laughing regularly has a lower standing blood pressure than the average person. Having a healthy blood pressure can decrease risk of a heart attack and other cardiovascular issues.

5). Boosts immunity and brain function

Smiles assist the body to relax and this allows the immune system react more rapidly and effectively against attackers.

According to clinical studies, laughter increases infection-fighting antibodies and improves the levels of key immunity cells like white blood cells. Thus, laughing can improve immune system, to keep healthier and improve body's ability to drive away infections.

Laughter boosts immune system, memory and even lessens the risk of heart disease.

Laughter stimulates both the left and right sides of the brain relieving muscle tension and reduces psychological stress, preserving the brain to be attentive and allowing it to retain more information. Laughter also stimulates the frontal lobe area of the brain which increases rational thinking and craft better judgments.

Each time of a smile throws a little feel-good party in the brain, activating neural messaging that benefits one’s health and happiness.

For starters, smiling stimulates the release of neuropeptides that work toward fighting off stress. Neuropeptides are tiny molecules that allow neurons to communicate, messaging to the whole body when happy, sad, angry, depressed, or excited. The feel good neurotransmitters dopamine, endorphins and serotonin are all released when a smile flashes across one’s face as well. This not only relaxes the body, but lowers heart rate and blood pressure.

The endorphins also play as a natural pain reliever - 100% natural and without the potential negative side effects of synthetic mixtures. It does more than kick stress to the curb, it boosts one’s mood. Smiling increases productivity while preforming tasks, so “whistle while working.”

Lastly, the serotonin release caused by smile serves as an anti-depressant/mood lifter. Many of today’s pharmaceutical anti-depressants also influence the levels of serotonin in human brain, but with a smile, no need to fret on negative side effects, which do need a prescription from a doctor.

6). Smile can be contagious

Smile can make humans appear more attractive to others. It boosts one’s mood as well as the moods of those around.  About 50% of people smile in return. This extends the health benefits throughout those around and it comes back to you a number of times too.

The part of the brain that is responsible for facial expression of smiling when happy or mimicking another’s smile dwells in the cingulate cortex , an unconscious automatic response area. Based on a research which shown pictures of several emotions (joy, anger, fear and surprise) to subjects, when the picture of someone smiling was presented, the researchers found that the facial expressions went directly to imitation of what the subjects had seen even they were asked to frown. It took conscious effort to turn that smile inverted. Thus, when smiling at someone, it’s likely they can’t help but smile back. Otherwise, they’re making a conscious effort not to.

Consequently, each time a person smiles to another, the brain cajoles her/him to return the favor. One is developing a cooperative relationship that allows both to release feel good chemicals in the brain, activates reward centers, makes them both more attractive and increases the opportunities to living longer, healthier lives.

7). Boosts Trust

Researches disclose that we are more trustful of others when they smile and smile sincerely. Trust is a significant part of social health when dealing with people, be it loved ones or simple acquaintances. Relationships are truly developed on smiles.

8). Creates Empathy

When one is ashamed or caught doing something doubtful, often human’s first response is a smile. This nature relaxes the initial ice of shame, encourages compassion in what others think of us, and creates a sense of empathy since everybody experiences embarrassment and everybody wants to smile along.

9). Avoids Regret

People smile to avoid feeling bad for not smiling; no one wants to hurt people’s feelings so people smile when someone shares some story about their dog even if no one really cares. Studies show that without smiling, we feel regret for failing to do so. This compunction overthrow one’s mood and improves stress hormones.

10). Kills Pain

Smiling and laughter reduce pain. They release endorphins that lift moods, but many of these act as natural painkillers too.

11). Increases Attention

Stress controls perceptions and limits attention. Human bodies get going into fight or flight mode where she/he can focus only on one of those things. Smiling thwarts this and broadens attention again, opening back up to multitasking and insights that emanate from the fringes of perception and subconscious.

12). Develops Attraction

Smiling makes people more attractive. Men are more likely to draw near to a woman who smiles than one who simply makes eye contact, while women aren’t necessarily drawn in simply by a smile.

There is nothing more delightful than smiling and affecting others  to smile.

Even if others are not extremely happy, causing them to raise the cheeks 

and extend the corners of their mouths boost the mood.  By going back to 

a child-like character in simplicity of heart, the Kingdom of God enters  

everybody's hearts through each happiness that manifests.

(Video by Mylene Ecleo)

13). Gains Achievement

A smile can appear positive, self-assured, and on top of her/his task. People who smile are more likely to make more money through tips and raises. They are more cheerfully approached with business ideas and offered advancements.

14). Looks Younger and promotes longevity

Smiles naturally lift the face and make people look younger, around 3 years younger on average. Individuals who smile more often live longer, around 7 years longer. It releases stress, helps the heart, and much more to keep one healthy longer.

15). Progresses Mood - facial expressions do more than communicate current mood — they have the ability to influence mood as well. Emotions may originate in the brain, but the muscles in the face either reinforce or transform those feelings. Studies reveal that through the enhancement of positive emotions — or the suppression of negative ones — with facial expressions, an individual’s mood starts to align more strongly with the emotion his or her face is communicating.

Smiling actually retrains your brain for the better.

While the brain is naturally inclined to think in negative terms as a defense mechanism, the usual act of smiling assists the mind move to a more positive area and remain there longer the more one does it. By making smiling a part of human daily practice helps the brain create happiness loops that encourage more affirmative-discerning examples.

How smiling influences one’s  Body

No sweet talking but one is actually better looking good when one smiles. When an individual smiles, she/he is treated by people uniquely, viewed as attractive, reliable, relaxed and sincere. According to a study, seeing an attractive smiling face activates the orbitofrontal cortex , the region in the brain that processes sensory rewards. Therefore, when viewing a person smiling, one actually feels rewarded.

That is why both men and women are more attracted to auras of people who make eye contact and smile than those who don’t.

How to Laugh and Smile More Often

If not into a habitual smiles or notice without smiling in a while brought by low self-esteem caused by environment and brokenness at home, fake one smile when feeling down. The more often one fakes a smile, the more likely smiling will become a more natural habit.

Watch funny TV shows, films, and theater to avoiding negative media, to be balance, to feel more blithe and happy, and have a real reason to have a big grin.

Spend time with positive people, fun-loving and optimistic people, who could bring your cheery side and  lifting spirits.

Reflect on happy memories by looking through photographs whether on facebook or favorite album.

Don't let the teeth’s condition to put you off from smiling. Make sure you brush them twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Personally, I use lukewarm water with a teaspoon of salt as a regular gargle after brushing.

CONCLUSION

By choosing to smile, happy changes begin to happen automatically, both internally and externally. Great power lies in a random smile, so long as one desires to share it with the world.

While some researchers insist the benefits of smiling can only be concentrated from a genuine expression of happiness, others have found that a forced smile can still make feel happy, even when one’s existing mood and surroundings suggest otherwise. It only takes smiling for a brief period of time to experience its benefits — no matter how unnatural it feels to begin with. In this case, maybe it’s acceptable to fake it a little.

Every time one struggles to relax jaw muscles, a quick look at the yellow smiley face gets one chuckling/laughing ear to ear.

Gracing face with a grin can seriously change internal and external experience. Smile is something that should be worn often, so it is imperative surrounding with people, places and things that brighten day. Be determined to be the positive, happy person in group of friends. Watch funny movies regularly and be bound to look people in the eye and show them pearly whites. The world is simply a better home when one smiles. 

Happiness is a work ethic, something that requires the brain to train just like an athlete has to train.

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References:

1). Natasha Mann, Benefits of smiling, 27 May 2009, http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/healthy-living/wellbeing/a10633/benefits-of-smiling/ 

2). Health benefits of laughing and smiling, https://www.allianz.com.au/life-insurance/news/health-benefits-of-laughing-and-smiling

3). Sarah Stevenson, There’s Magic In Your Smile, https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/cutting-edge-leadership/201206/there-s-magic-in-your-smile

4). Hatfield, Elaine; Cacioppo, John T.; Rapson, Richard L. Clark, Margaret S. (Ed), (1992). Primitive emotional contagion. Emotion and social behavior. Review of personality and social psychology, Vol. 14., (pp. 151-177). Thousand Oaks, CA, US: Sage Publications, Inc, xi, 311 pp.

5). Abel E. and Kruger M. (2010) Smile Intensity in Photographs Predicts Longevity, Psychological Science, 21, 542–544.

6). Seaward BL. Managing Stress: Principles and Strategies for Health and Well-Being. Sudbury, Mass.: Jones and Bartlett; 2009:258

7). R.D. (2000). Neural correlates of conscious emotional experience. In R.D. Lane & L. Nadel (Eds.), Cognitiveneuroscience of emotion (pp. 345–370). New York: Oxford University Press.

8). Sonnby–Borgström, M. (2002), Automatic mimicry reactions as related to differences in emotional empathy. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 43: 433–443.

9).  Why You Need to Smile More, https://www.neuronation.com/science/benefits-of-smiling

10). Primitive emotional contagion. Hatfield, Elaine; Cacioppo, John T.; Rapson, Richard L. Clark, Margaret S. (Ed), (1992). Emotion and social behavior. Review of personality and social psychology, Vol. 14., (pp. 151-177). Thousand Oaks, CA, US: Sage Publications, Inc, xi, 311 pp.

11). Abel E. and Kruger M. (2010) Smile Intensity in Photographs Predicts Longevity, Psychological Science, 21, 542–544.

12). Seaward BL. Managing Stress: Principles and Strategies for Health and Well-Being. Sudbury, Mass.: Jones and Bartlett; 2009:258

13). R.D. (2000). Neural correlates of conscious emotional experience. In R.D. Lane & L. Nadel (Eds.), Cognitive neuroscience of emotion (pp. 345–370). New York: Oxford University Press.