The Benefits of Smiling

A bright, shining smile promotes an image of happiness and good health. However, smiling can actually benefit you in a variety of ways that might surprise you.

Relieve Your Stress

We all know that smiling makes you appear happy, but it actually makes you feel happy too. When you smile, the movement of your facial muscles triggers the release of endorphins in your brain. Endorphins are a chemical that helps us feel happy and relaxed, reducing stress and relieving pain. The more often you smile, the lower your stress levels will be.

Appear More Trustworthy

Smiling helps you seem more genuine and honest to others. A study from the University of Pittsburgh asked men to rank models based on how trustworthy they appeared to be. The results showed that models with the biggest smiles were seen as the most trustworthy.

Be More Productive

Research has shown that smiling can actually increase productivity in the workplace. A study published in 2010 found that smiling can help you keep a positive attitude at work, making you a more effective and valuable employee.

Improve Your Social Life

Smiling is a great way to meet new friends. If you’re not sure what to say in uncomfortable social situations, a warm smile can break the ice. This helps you appear confident and friendly, which will make you more approachable to others as a result.   

Retrain Your Brain

In his book The Happiness Advantage, author Shawn Achor discusses how smiling can actually change the thinking pattern of our brains. Smiling has a positive influence on your brain chemistry, so smiling more often can create a positive feedback loop in your brain. This will eventually train your brain to think more optimistically and avoid succumbing to negativity.