Do you smile as a spiritual or health practice? Or do you smile only when you feel like smiling? Research tells us a lot about the health benefits of smiling . Its proven to lower heart rate, reduce stress, and slow breathing. Research also shows that when we smile, our insides produce more happiness hormones and emotional happiness. Spiritual masters such as the Dalai Lama and Thich Hhat Hanh, teach us to smile as a spiritual practice, and as an invitation for people to experience kindness.
Here are a few benefits of smiling
Want to learn more about the power of smiling? Check out some Mindful facts listed below.
- Smiling relieves stress. Your body releases endorphins when you smile, even if you really don’t mean to! When you smile, your body relaxes and that can boost your immune system.
- It takes more muscles to frown. It takes hundreds of muscles to frown and only five to 53 facial muscles to smile. So, don’t wear yourself out smiling!
- It’s the most recognizable facial expression. People can recognize smiles from up to 300 feet away; making it the most effective greeting in our society today.
- Your smile is your body’s thermostat. In a study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology on athletes, researchers found that gold medal winners tend to be people that express “real joy” and or display joyful smiles before and during the competition. This suggests that your face can affect the way your body feels and how you feel inside.
You can never go wrong with a smile. So why not give it a try! Smile everywhere you go and watch people’s reaction. You’re likely to get a smile in return.
