Smile, It’s Free Therapy!

“Smile, it’s free therapy!”

My day did not start off well today morning. First thing in the morning, my alarm clock did not go off which resulted in a series of delays. Added to that I am late dropping my son at school as another driver decides to roll into me. My car does not get damaged but my mood is totally put off; on entering the Doctor’s office for an appointment I realize I am early by half an hour. Totally losing control of myself I enter a coffee shop for a nice hot cup of coffee to appease my moods. As I sit under my little grey cloud and wait to order my coffee and a piece of hot samosa, a young server flashes a dazzling smile at me and enquires, “Madam, your order please?” His smile works magic and I can’t help but smile back. Suddenly my day does not seem to be as bad as I consider it to be. I finish my coffee and head to my appointment with a broad smile on my face. What has the day taught me? Even when your mood is low, try smiling genuinely, and see how you feel!

A smile is contagious and has invaluable powers. It can calm down hurt, apprehension, diffidence not just within you, but also in those around you who are experiencing similar feelings, by just SMILING!

Smiling at your first meeting with a person will indicate to the other person that you are really interested and genuinely happy to meet that individual and that you are a person with a cheerful disposition. Smiling is a key ingredient for establishing healthy and genuine friendships.

Business deals are easily clinched by people with a sunny disposition who carry out the entire negotiation in a friendly manner with a smiling face. One of the first requisites of a salesperson is the art of smiling even when their commodities are rejected. Who would you rather buy something from –that sales rep that looks grumpy and bored or from the rep that is simply smiling and happy to see you who talks persuasively? A smiling person would be much more enthusiastic about the product and instil positive feelings in the buyer and coax him to try his product.

Then again if you are to attend a job interview, you may think that your appearance is just about wearing well-tailored clothes. You are wrong! It is important you wear a suit with a smile. When recruiters see the photos of smiling candidates, they are more likely to think of the candidate as a confident, conscientious and dependable person. Sound like this trait of smiling is one of the most wanted ones in an employee. So the next time you are dressing to impress, make sure to take that beautiful, natural smile with you!

Our mannerisms and the way we react to situations influences our way of thinking and feeling. Smile frequently and ‘fake it till you make it’! Your brain is unaware of the difference between a genuine smile and a fake one. By smiling even if you do not wish to, you will feel better and smile and laugh more spontaneously. Smile acts as a stress buster too. The next time you are stressed at your workplace or at home, stop feeling miserable. Take a few deep breaths and smile as it will work wonders.

A number of health benefits are attributed to this wonderful SMILE and LAUGHTER. When you smile, several physiological changes happen to your body, even without your being conscious of it. With every smile, a feel-good factor is injected in your brain. It has been proved that smiling releases serotonin, a neurotransmitter which results in the production of feelings of joy and wellbeing. A smile’s health benefits include its acting like a mini workout that results in burning of calories; aids blood flow; decreases blood sugar levels, improves sleep and acts as a stress buster. The level of antibodies rises which in turn helps boost your immune system. In addition to the health benefits, this attribute of a smile can have a marked, excellent and positive, effect on all other aspects of your life. Yes, a smile costs nothing but reaps huge invaluable benefits. So make smile a permanent asset in your personality and let a smile define you.

Hopefully, you are smiling now as you read this. Practice stretching your skin and muscles less in life and see yourself grow old attractively!

Image via Pixabay

Sudha Chandrasekaran

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