“Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile;
but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.”
I grew up on a farm near Union Star, Missouri. The community was so small that I knew everyone by name. As a child, I would walk down the street of our town wearing a big smile and greeting everyone. Each person connected with me and responded in kind. This felt so good! The sun shines in my soul just remembering those times. Remember the song, “When you’re smiling, the whole world smiles with you” made famous by greats like Louis Armstrong?
An article in Psychology Today by Sarah Stevenson explains how the brain and body react to smiling in a way that promotes health and happiness. The feel-good chemicals, dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin, are released when we smile, which improves mood. We even look better when we smile.
- Among other physical benefits, the body relaxes and pain subsides.
- When others see a smiling face, they feel rewarded, and they naturally respond by smiling back.
To quote Stevenson, “You are creating a symbiotic relationship that allows both of you to release feel good chemicals in your brains, activate reward centers, make you both more attractive and increase the chances of you both living longer, healthier lives.”
Recently, as a winner of the American Small Business Championship, sponsored by Sam’s and SCORE, I was invited to a workshop in Dallas. To express my gratitude for this amazing event, I wrote thank-you notes to the speakers and organizers. One of the speakers, Giselle Chapman sent a unique reply – a video entitled “Smile Production” (below). Wow, what a surprise! Watching her video triggers such a good feeling in my mind and body! Thank you, Giselle!
So, the moral of the story is: Smile and the whole world will smile with you!
Check out my blog for more tips on living.
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