Happy Smile Power Day! A smile a day keeps so many bad things away. We can't possibly list them all here. But we do have a few minutes to talk about all the benefits! Smile Power Day is the perfect excuse to shine your pearly whites, show off those dimples, and make your eyes sparkle. And no, you can't just text a smiley face or an emoticon! That's cold and cheating. The smile is a symbol of happiness and vitality, a beacon of hope, and an expression of emotion. So take advantage of this one day where it's ok to spam your friends, family, and Facebook with selfies! Just make sure you brush your teeth first though! What is in the power of a smile, you might ask. Well there are physical and mental benefits for both the giver and receiver of a lovely smile. No doubt we have all been told to smile more before - I certainly have! - and it's true! So here's why smiling isn't just good for you but for everyone else too. When we smile we automatically trigger our own autonomic nervous system, which releases endorphins to trigger happy hormones. BUT smiling at someone else offers a chance for them too to feel that same happy hormone too! It's hard to imagine an easier and more uplifting win/win situation, right? Smiling is one of the fastest ways to form a bond and connection between two people. Hugs might cement that connection but would you hug someone who you haven't at least shared a smile with first? I don't think so. Showing off your going also makes you more attractive. Have you ever wanted to walk up to someone who was scowling? Not if you didn't have to, I'd bet. Smiling is attractive to both sexes and highlights both your personality and radiates warmth to others. AND the best part is smiling is contagious; the only time that something contagious is good for you – it encourages and promotes a happy and healthy atmosphere and brings a sense of community. So just start everyday with a smile and share that smile with strangers. You never know when it will bring a little cheer to an otherwise dismal day or help you meet someone special or bring those around you together. Smiling also has plenty of physical benefits for you as well, including boosting your immune system, lowering your blood pressure, relieving stress, and can ease pain; again this is mostly due to releasing that happy hormone we spoke about before. So smiling more often can improve your health and keep you in a more relaxed state. I'm sure that alone will keep you smiling for a long time. On the outside, smiling can and will make you look younger. Don't worry about those laugh lines! What you don't want are those frown lines, which can make us look tired, withdrawn, and perpetually grumpy. Smiling works all those facial muscles to keep them supple and all our beautiful mugs looking sweet and sanguine. Practice smiling as part of your skincare routine - what's under the skin is an important part of your face too! - and you can instantly cut that botox bill. And you know this is true too! We can all think of someone we know whose face is never without a smile and who lights up the room when they enter. Immediately everyone else is at ease and spirits are lifted. We also know those people who can't possibly be bothered to look happy. Their faces are constantly twisted into a scowl and they bring gloom everywhere they go. And they are about as miserable to be around as they look.
