Smile and The World Smiles with You
Posted by Gail | Filed under Life Lessons
Sometimes it’s hard to make yourself smile. Sure, it’s good for you. But there are days when pasting on a smile feels like stripping the skin off your back. Sure, you should be brave. Sure you should find “the funny side.” It’s just so hard.
I remember a time when I realized that I’d stopped laughing. I love to laugh. And a smile comes pretty quickly to my lips. But my life had gone into the dumper and I’d just stopped smiling. When I realized how much I missed the feelings that came with smiling and laughing, I put myself on a remedial program.
Did you know that babies start smiling in their sleep the moment they get here. No, it’s not gas. It’s a smile. And they smile while awake as early as four weeks. Hey, if a baby can do it, you can do it too.
Forcing yourself to smile can boost your mood. Psychologists have found that when you use the muscles in your face that are used in a smile, your spirits will lift. And smiling is good for your physical health too. It boosts your immunity because your body is more relaxed when you smile. And when you smile, there is a measurable reduction in your blood pressure.
Yup, the minute you smile, your body begins to release endorphins. And since it is easier to smile than it is to frown – it’s been reported that it takes 17 muscles to smile and 43 to frown – you can get that great rush with less effort than it takes to scowl at the guy who cut in front of you in line.
I started visiting funny sites, watching comedians on YouTube, and listening to humorous stories. And it worked. Just a few minutes a day devoted to finding my funny and I got back in touch with my inside hahaha. Smiling became easier and easier.
Make an effort to smile today at work. Statistically, we tend to smile less at work than at home, but you can up the number of times you smile just by shifting your attitude. Since smiles are contagious, you would be doing your bit to spread the good feelings around where they are likely most needed. And you could end up getting a promotion since smiles make people seem more attractive, confident and sociable… the very things that are likely to get you noticed at work. You’ll definitely be thought of as more beautiful. In one study, 69% of people found women who were smiling more attractive than when they were wearing make-up. That’s because the muscles we use to smile lift the face, making a person appear younger. So skip the botox and smile.
Ever “heard” a smile while on the telephone? Smiling is transmittable in so many ways, and is so worthwhile. In one Swedish study, people had difficulty frowning when they looked at other people who were smiling; their beams turn on automatically.
As Mother Teresa said, “Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.”
How many times have you smiled today?
February 3, 2012 at 8:28 am
I get emails from one person that are just dripping with smiles, it’s rather exhausting. I can’t even dismiss them because she actually is that happy. I’m very happy for her but those emails can be overwhelming.
February 3, 2012 at 8:46 am
I get email updates from someone who used to work for my company that are always full of smiles just like her. Reading them puts a smile on my face again and reminds me of how great she was to work with. I hope some day I can be that contagiously smiley
And if I am having a bad day I use my break to read a funny blog, which can shift my whole attitude.
February 3, 2012 at 10:04 am
Excellent advice. When newbies at work had phone training (and that was all of us at one time) the first point covered was “smile” because a smile can be heard and felt even when it can’t be seen.
February 3, 2012 at 10:04 am
Our eldest son actually started to belly laugh at 6 weeks!!…no kidding!….he is still a very very happy boy…(Brody is severly autistic but since he lives like a king in our house he is always happy…as he so very much deserves)…his happy attitude rubs off on all of us and gives us all a daily boost of happiness….I try to keep a cheerful attitude and am successful about 98% of the time…it doesn’t cost anymore to be nice and the rewards are so much better:)
Have a great day everyone!!…Cheers!!
February 3, 2012 at 10:42 am
Thanks Gail for the uplisting post!
February 3, 2012 at 10:47 am
This post made me smile.
Thanks Gail! So very true.
February 3, 2012 at 11:03 am
I came into work a little miserable…. got a little of the grouchy going on…
So one of my co-workers came up with me… and he said “I have a question”…. and I said ok… but here is what my reply is going to be no matter what you ask… and I proceeded to bark like a dog…., then said — I haven’t had my tea yet, and I just want to bark. So he laughed, which made me laugh… and then he asked his question (which I had already told production about yesterday) — so I yelled back with a smile on my face…. and he took it all jokingly….
So I was able to bark and have fun with my misery instead of just be miserable….
So you don’t have to just smile sometimes…. sometimes you can take yourself a little less seriously….
February 3, 2012 at 11:11 am
Having enjoyed your big laugh Gail, it’s hard to imagine you not smiling and laughing, it must have been a very dark time for you. Glad you found your smile again
This post has great advice-when I notice myself gritting my teeth to avoid being snarky to someone, (usually my dear husband) I try to force myself to smile instead. It tends to change my tone and my mood, which has a positive snowball effect (because usually, if I’m snarky to him, hubby is snarky back and it just devolves from there). A smile can take us down a totally different path and keep the day going on a positive note, which, as sleep deprived parents of a 6 month old, is very helpful!!
On a related note, our little guy is very smiley which is very contagious. He’s very sensitive-if he notices our tone is angry or upset, he looks quite disconcerted. If we smile and resume a happy (or at least neutral tone) he smiles and carries on. This is a gret reminder to keep smiling!
February 3, 2012 at 11:47 am
I wonderful how many of us smiled when we read the post…and went with it? It’s a difficult thing to do when your upset, but uplifting when it happens
You smile, I smile, we all smile!
February 3, 2012 at 1:22 pm
I smiled when I read this post!!! I don’t think that I’ve been smiling very much today. Or lately. (Busy working, mom to a 20 month old, a second one due in 7 weeks, rushing home at night to get supper done, blah blah blah.) I love smiling and laughing. I think that I might have to consciously work on this. Thanks for the great blog Gail!
February 3, 2012 at 2:00 pm
Fake it till you make it.
February 3, 2012 at 2:31 pm
When I worked in telephone customer service, we were told to keep a small mirror by our work station – and smile into it as we talked to the customer. It keeps our spirits up, and the person on the other end can hear our smile.
I am generally a very happy and smiley person, and so my perceptions of how people treat me are through a ’smile filter’. I find I get better customer service, and have less bad experiences than others around me. I don’t know if it is because I am in a good mood or because my smile helps others be in a good mood so they treat me differently? Probably a combination.
February 3, 2012 at 2:34 pm
I am really lucky to work in an environment where we smile frequently…my supervisor always has us laughing…I think it’s one of the main reasons I like to go into work!
February 3, 2012 at 9:48 pm
My kids hae a great sense of humour and are always willing to share a smile or two (or more). You are so right, sometimes we get in a funk and forget how fun we can be or how great the little things are. I also love to read 1000 Awesome Things blog by Neil Pasricha it makes me smile
February 4, 2012 at 9:32 am
Great post Gail!
I agree with Linda – I smile a lot more since I’ve had my kids! Even when I’m in a rotten mood, those little monkeys can crack me up!
February 4, 2012 at 12:32 pm
My father passed away a few short weeks ago. The funeral was definitely non-smiley. But the gathering afterwards–a lot of people has some good stories to tell about my father, which had us all laughing. It really did help. My best moments are when I can look at dad’s photo and smile fondly at some memory, rather than cry. I strive for more of the former each day.
February 5, 2012 at 3:12 am
I didn’t smile when I read your post, I cried. It’s hitting really close to home tonight. One of the very first lessons I teach my kindergarten students is about smiling. We have a little poem we say to ourselves about giving a smile, will always give one back to you. My own daughter came in my room last night and told me to smile. She then said how beautiful I am with a smile on my face. My husband and I are in the process of splitting up and it’s been very painful, especially this weekend. I need to keep remembering these little people I am privileged to spend my days with, and the beauty of finding something each day that makes you smile.
February 5, 2012 at 11:41 am
@ Mello and THorny – I am so sorry for your losses – hope you keep finding ways to smile through these tough times!
Thorny – your daughter sounds like a real gem!
February 6, 2012 at 9:30 pm
Thanks for the reminder, Gail.
I’ve been smiling and laughing a lot more lately and it feels really good.
February 7, 2012 at 9:01 am
I wish for your financial education poll you had “Gail” as an option!!
February 8, 2012 at 4:18 pm
Very true!
February 12, 2012 at 5:20 pm
Great post Gail! It made me smile!
March 15, 2012 at 6:48 am
Smile is a great way to make your mind fresh and keep up you speedy with all your work whole day. It also reduce some diseases risk as an example smile can able to control heart diseases. So everyone should try for smile maximum time.
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March 18, 2012 at 8:56 am
Very very true Daniel, you are quite right. I appreciate you man. I have the same word. I think we should delete our angry and smile always like that:
:):):):):):):):):)
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