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Charles Darwin was one of the first people to suggest facial expressions may actually intensify feelings. This theory is commonly known as the 'feedback loop' or 'facial feedback hypothesis.' A smiling expression feeds our mood, makes us feel happier, or even makes a joke seems more silly.
You know smiling makes you happier but did you know the benefits of smiling extend to the workplace too?
When smiling, authentically, eyes, and forehead are critical. A genuine smile involves the muscles around the mouth and cheeks to rise, and the eyes to crescent; this is called a Duchenne smile. People who smile authentically report a more satisfaction in life, relationships and work; hence, it may be worth learning and practicing smiling with your whole face.
Smiling can trick your brain into believing you are happy, which can then spur actual feelings of happiness. But it doesn't end there. One study shows how the mind is connected to the immune system; depression weakens your immune system, while happiness, on the other hand, has been shown to boost our body's resistance.
Forcing a fake smile can reduce stress and lower your heart rate. Smiling through tense situations can reduce the body's response to stress. Smiling has also been linked to lower blood pressure and can lead to a longer life.
In addition to the health benefits, smiling can improve your business, help you become a better leader and be viewed as more trustworthy.
We all deserve a happier, less stressful life, so share your lovely smile with others, and you will bring good things into your life, and business.
5 Surprising Benefits of Smiling That Will Improve Your Business:
1. Smiling is good for your health
You tend to think of a smile as a result of positive emotions or stimuli, but it turns out that your smile can actually affect your stress levels and productivity. Smiling releases endorphins, which improves your mood, helps you relax, and lowers your blood pressure. The release of endorphins through smiling also increases blood flow. Smiling has been associated with an increased HDL [the good cholesterol] levels in the body and lowers the stress hormones [cortisol, adrenaline, and norepinephrine]. Thus, smiling and laughing more can improve overall heart health!
2. Smiling improves effectiveness in the workplace
The benefits of smiling extend to the work environment. Smiling at your co-workers creates moments of connection that lead to higher productivity and teamwork. People in the service industry prove to have a more positive effect on customers when they smile. People in leadership positions favor their employees who smile regularly.
3. Smiling boosts your activity
Not only can smiling make you feel happier and more positive, but it can also lead to higher rates of productivity. Studies show being happy has a significant effect on productivity in the workplace. Smiling causes feelings of satisfaction and more joyful emotions! Satisfaction and joy lead more productivity as we engage in a positive, happier mindset. However, the opposite is true: negative emotions can cause a drained feeling and lead us to be less productive, so keep on smiling.
4. You will make a better leader
If you are a leader, executive, or CEO [or aspire to be one], smiling may be the key to your success. Smiling is an extremely effective leadership technique. It helps employees feel at ease and improves company culture. The next time you want to show off your leadership skills, just smile. Impresses them with success and reach them with a smile!
5. You tend to be more trustworthy
If you want to improve your credibility, simply smile more. What could be easier than that? Trusting doesn't come easily to many, but smiling at someone will help. Smiling is also known to increase cooperation. A smile can mean more than a pleasant greeting.
Practice makes perfect
Practice makes perfect—Children smile, on an average, 400 times a day, whereas the happiest adults only smile 40-50 times a day. Consider the hidden power of smiling; it is like a superpower. But unlike the ability to fly or to become invisible, smiling can be learned, practiced diligently, and improved upon.
So how do you practice smiling? Watch funny movies or sitcoms, play with your kids, hang out with happy people, and call to mind someone who really lights you up when you are posing for a picture.
The smile on your face could literally make you happier, healthier, more productive, instill trustworthiness and make you a better leader. That should put a smile on your face.
