The Astonishing Power of a Simple Act

What if there was something in a bottle that could lengthen your lifespan, reduce stress, boost your immune system, lower blood pressure, and put your brain in a good mood? With no bad side effects. Would you take it? Probably. 

It turns that there is. It just doesn't come in a bottle. It's in you: a smile.

Maya Angelou once said, "If you have one smile in you. Give it." A smile can turn a whole day around. Science backs this up. 

Let's start with you. Smiling makes you happy through the facial feedback hypothesis, where activating smile muscles sends signals to the brain that trigger the release of dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins. These neurotransmitters are natural mood boosters and stress reducers. They make your brain feel happier even if the smile is initially forced. 

Your smile makes others happy too. This is due in large part to mirror neurons and social contagion. 

A while back I was finishing up a long ride on a trail in Whistler on my mountain bike. I was tired and hungry (never a good combination). I rounded a turn, and there was a lady jogging toward me. As we passed she produced an ear-to-ear smile. It was one of those "isn't it great to be alive" kind of smiles. It jolted my brain. My mood instantly elevated. Six hours later I was still in a good mood. 

It only takes a split second to smile and forget, yet to someone that needed it, it can last a lifetime. ~ Steve Maraboli

British researchers discovered that a seeing a single smile stimulates the brain’s reward mechanism to a level comparable to seeing 2,000 bars of chocolate!

More like this: An Astonishingly Simple Way to Grow Younger

Also, how about an extra 7 years? A study found a person's smile can predict lifespan. The researchers studied pre-1950s major league player baseball cards. Players who didn't smile in their pictures lived an average of only 72.9 years, where players with beaming smiles lived an average of 80 years.

Life is difficult these days. We should all try to smile more. Make it a habit. Incorporating more smiles into your day can lead to a happier, healthier life. And, it helps others along the way.

Remember, there's magic in your smile. A smile is one of the simplest, most powerful gestures we can offer to the world. Why not give a random stranger a bit smile today? It just might improve their mood. And, they'll wonder what you've been up to!

 Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy. ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

Thanks for reading. You are a genius!

This article was first published in Terry Small's Brain Bulletin newsletter.