Smile and Be Happy
Did you know that how you feel is directly related to how you hold your body (and how you hold your body is related to how you feel)? Other people can ‘read’ these attitudes about you through observing your body language, and this takes a mere matter of seconds?
As we grow into adulthood, our values, rules about how the world works and how we fit into it become established, and these beliefs are tied to an associated body position. For example, plastic surgeons say that as we age, our faces set into a mask. I know my face does that. I have ‘overactive thinking lines’ between my eyebrows. When I am concentrating, apparently I use these muscles to do it, and it looks like I am frowning, upset or angry (maybe all three combined). And I am not upset or angry…just thinking.
I am not aware I am ‘frowning with my forehead’; otherwise I wouldn’t do it. I think strangers must get the wrong impression about me. You and always communicating a message – and when it works to your advantage that’s great. Does your body communicating a message that represents who you really are? What message do you think you communicate? Ask friends and family who know your body language well.
For my frowning problem, I’ve wondered what to do about it. I’ve even thought about having Botox injections, but then I discovered a simple change in your body physiology can actually unset your mask and even shift your energy into a feel-good state. It is called smiling.
Today, as much as you can, smile – even if you do not have a reason to smile. Smile at yourself in the mirror as you brush your teeth and comb your hair. Greet your family with smiles. Smile at people you interact with today. If you aren’t in the mood, smile anyway. Even though you may not be in the mood at first, the physiological act of smiling will change how you feel. It is part of a theory called ‘Facial Feedback’ and here are some of the effects:
- A smile (whether real or forced) causes the blood flow in your face to change direction (like a miniature massage) and this direction change cools the temperature of your blood in this area. This cooler blood flows to the hypothalamus region of the brain – the area of the brain that oversees emotions –and causes the release of chemicals such as endorphins (feel good chemicals). So just by smiling you feel better. Note that endorphins can also suppress pain.
- By smiling, even if you don’t feel like it, physiology will take over and you will soon begin to experience the pleasant feeling associated with smiling.
- People tend to mirror and copy facial expressions – if you smile at someone, they usually smile back and soon they too, will begin to have a better day. In fact a genuine smile can really give someone a lift and ‘make their day’.
Smiling is not the only facial cue to emotions. Frowning triggers feelings of sadness, clenching your jaw triggers feelings of anger. Try this simple experiment. Put your body in a really bad posture: slump over, and let your head hang. Now try to smile – a genuine, happy smile. Most people find this very difficult to do. Now straighten your spine, lift your head, raise your arms in a big ‘v’ over your head and try to look grumpy. When most people do this exercise they instinctively smile or even laugh.
Here are some links which will help give you a reason to smile today.
http://eaglesfans.typepad.com/henleyblog/2006/02/smiling_photos.html
http://www.howstuffworks.com/laughter.htm
http://www.teehee.com/
(c) Deborah Redfern, 2008. All rights reserved.
