{"id":2818,"date":"2016-06-05T19:56:07","date_gmt":"2016-06-05T16:56:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gentledentalabroad.com\/?p=2818"},"modified":"2017-02-15T12:06:30","modified_gmt":"2017-02-15T10:06:30","slug":"your-smile-is-magic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gentledentalabroad.com\/nl\/your-smile-is-magic\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Smile is Magic"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Sarah Stevenson<\/em><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a rough morning. First, my alarm doesn\u2019t go off. Then I\u2019m late getting my son to school because another driver decides to roll into me. It doesn\u2019t damage my car, but it completely wrecks my mood. Then I get to my doctors appointment only to realize I\u2019m an hour early. Just great. It must be a case of the Mondays!<\/p>\n

“When I smile, the world smiles back”<\/h2>\n

I decide to pop into little French cafe around the corner to grab a cup of tea while I\u2019m waiting. As I sit under my little gray cloud, my pretty, young server Colette flashes me a dazzling smile that sticks there for the entire interaction. I can\u2019t help but smile back. In fact, I even catch myself smiling while washing my hands in the bathroom. Suddenly my day doesn\u2019t seem so bad. I finish my tea and head to my appointment equipped with a grin on my face, feeling as though I\u2019ve slipped on a pair of rose-colored glasses. Today\u2019s lesson? It turns out that when I smile, the world smiles back.<\/p>\n

Scientist and spiritual<\/a> teachers alike agree that the simple act can transform you and the world around you. Current research (and common sense) shows us that a smile is contagious (1). It can make us appear more attractive to others. It lifts our mood as well as the moods of those around us. (Merci, Colette.) And it can even lengthen our lives (2). So before you read on, slap a nice, genuine smile on that face of yours. You\u2019ll thank me later.<\/p>\n

How Smiling Affects Your Brain<\/h2>\n
\"Smile<\/a>

A broad Smile increases your attractiveness and the chances of you both living longer, healthier lives<\/p><\/div>\n

Each time you smile you throw a little feel-good party in your brain. The act of smiling activates neural messaging that benefits your health<\/a> and happiness<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For starters, smiling activates the release of neuropeptides that work toward fighting off stress<\/a> (3). Neuropeptides are tiny molecules that allow neurons to communicate. They facilitate messaging to the whole body when we are happy, sad, angry, depressed, excited. The feel good neurotransmitters dopamine<\/a>, endorphins and serotonin are all released when a smile flashes across your face as well (4). This not only relaxes your body, but it can lower your heart rate and blood pressure.<\/p>\n

The endorphins also act as a natural pain reliever – 100% organically and without the potential negative side effects of synthetic concoctions (4).<\/p>\n

Finally, the serotonin release brought on by your smile serves as an anti-depressant\/mood lifter (5). Many of today\u2019s pharmaceutical anti-depressants also influence the levels of serotonin in your brain, but with a smile, you again don\u2019t have to worry about negative side effects \u2013 and you don\u2019t need a prescription from your doctor.<\/p>\n

How Smiling Affects Your Body<\/h2>\n

You\u2019re actually better looking when you smile \u2013 and I\u2019m not just trying to butter you up. When you smile, people treat you differently. You\u2019re viewed as attractive, reliable, relaxed and sincere. A study published in the journal Neuropsychologia reported that seeing an attractive smiling face activates your orbitofrontal cortex, the region in your brain that process sensory rewards. This suggests that when you view a person smiling, you actually feel rewarded.<\/p>\n

It also explains the 2011 findings by researchers at the Face Research Laboratory at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. Subjects were asked to rate smiling and attractiveness. They found that both men and women were more attracted to images of people who made eye contact and smiled than those who did not (6). If you don\u2019t believe me, see how many looks you get when you walk outside with that smile your wearing right now. (You\u2019re still smiling like I asked, right?)<\/p>\n

How Smiling Affects Those Around You<\/h2>\n

Did you know that your smile is actually contagious? The part of your brain that is responsible for your facial expression of smiling when happy or mimicking another\u2019s smile resides in the cingulate cortex, an unconscious<\/a> automatic response area (7). In a Swedish study, subjects were shown pictures of several emotions: joy, anger<\/a>, fear<\/a> and surprise. When the picture of someone smiling was presented, the researchers asked the subjects to frown. Instead, they found that the facial expressions went directly to imitation of what subjects saw (8). It took conscious effort to turn that smile upside down. So if you\u2019re smiling at someone, it\u2019s likely they can\u2019t help but smile back. If they don\u2019t, they\u2019re making a conscious effort not to.<\/p>\n

Looking at the bigger picture, each time you smile at a person, their brain coaxes them to return the favor. You are creating a symbiotic relationship that allows both of you to release feel good chemicals in your brain, activate reward centers, make you both more attractive and increase the chances of you both living longer, healthier lives.<\/p>\n

My morning started a complete mess. Anyone in my shoes would have been frowning by the time they hit that caf\u00e9. We can\u2019t always control what happens to us, but I am 100% confident<\/a> that gracing your face with a grin can seriously change your internal and external experience. Your smile is something that should be worn often, so make it a priority to surround yourself with people, places and things that brighten your day<\/strong>. Vow to be the positive, happy person in your group of friends. Watch funny movies often and be sure to look people in the eye and show them your pearly whites. The world is simply a better place when you smile.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This post originally appeared in www.psychologytoday.com<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

[optin-cat id=2376]<\/p>\n

Footnotes:<\/p>\n

1. Primitive emotional contagion. Hatfield, Elaine; Cacioppo, John T.; Rapson, Richard L. Clark, Margaret S. (Ed), (1992). Emotion and social behavior. Review of personality<\/a> and social psychology, Vol. 14., (pp. 151-177). Thousand Oaks, CA, US: Sage Publications, Inc, xi, 311 pp.<\/p>\n

2. Abel E. and Kruger M. (2010) Smile Intensity in Photographs Predicts Longevity, Psychological Science, 21, 542\u2013544.<\/p>\n

3. Seaward BL. Managing Stress: Principles and Strategies for Health and Well-Being. Sudbury, Mass.: Jones and Bartlett; 2009:258<\/p>\n

4. R.D. (2000). Neural correlates of conscious emotional experience. In R.D. Lane & L. Nadel (Eds.), Cognitive<\/a> neuroscience<\/a> of emotion (pp. 345\u2013370). New York: Oxford University Press.<\/p>\n

5. Karren KJ, et al. Mind\/Body Health: The Effect of Attitudes, Emotions and Relationships. New York, N.Y.: Benjamin Cummings, 2010:461.<\/p>\n

6. Facial attractiveness: evolutionary based research Phil Trans<\/a> R Soc B June 12, 2011 366: 1638-1659.<\/p>\n

7. O\u2019Doherty, J., Winston, J., Critchley, H. Perrett, D., Burt, D.M., and Dolan R.J., (2003) Beauty<\/a> in a smile: the role of medial orbitofrontal cortex in facial attractiveness. Neuropsychologia, 41, 147\u2013155.<\/p>\n

8. Sonnby\u2013Borgstr\u00f6m, M. (2002), Automatic mimicry reactions as related to differences in emotional empathy<\/a>. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 43: 433\u2013443.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sarah Stevenson, a.k.a., The Tini Yogini, is a Certified Yoga<\/p>\n

Instructor in Southern California. She has a degree in Behavioral<\/p>\n

Psychology and teaches not only yoga classes but also life affirming<\/p>\n

workshops. She also writes for https:\/\/www.beachbody.com”>www.beachbody.com, <\/a>which provides\u00a0effective home fitness dvds for all fitness levels including home fitness workouts such the Asylum workout: “https:\/\/www.beachbody.com\/product\/fitness_programs\/insanity-next-level-asylum-workout.do”<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/object><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Sarah Stevenson It\u2019s a rough morning. First, my alarm doesn\u2019t go off. Then I\u2019m late getting my son to school because another driver decides to roll into me. It doesn\u2019t damage my car, but it completely wrecks my mood. Then I get to my doctors appointment only to realize I\u2019m an hour early. Just great. It must be a case of the Mondays! “When I smile, the world smiles back” I decide to pop into little French cafe around the corner to grab a cup of tea while I\u2019m waiting. As I sit under my little gray cloud, my pretty, young server Colette flashes me a dazzling smile that sticks there for the entire interaction. I can\u2019t help but smile back. In fact, I even catch myself smiling while washing my hands in the bathroom. Suddenly my day doesn\u2019t seem so bad. I finish my tea and head to my appointment equipped with a grin on my face, feeling as though I\u2019ve slipped on a pair of rose-colored glasses. Today\u2019s lesson? It turns out that when I smile, the world smiles back. Scientist and spiritual teachers alike agree that the simple act can transform you and the world around you. Current research (and common sense) shows us that a smile is contagious (1). It can make us appear more attractive to others. It lifts our mood as well as the moods of those around us. (Merci, Colette.) And it can even lengthen our lives (2). So before you read on, slap a nice, genuine smile on that face of yours. You\u2019ll thank me later. How Smiling Affects Your Brain Each time you smile you throw a little feel-good party in your brain. The act of smiling activates neural messaging that benefits your health and happiness. For starters, smiling activates the release of neuropeptides that work toward fighting off stress (3). Neuropeptides are tiny molecules that allow neurons to communicate. They facilitate messaging to the whole body when we are happy, sad, angry, depressed, excited. The feel good neurotransmitters dopamine, endorphins and serotonin are all released when a smile flashes across your face as well (4). This not only relaxes your body, but it can lower your heart rate and blood pressure. The endorphins also act as a natural pain reliever – 100% organically and without the potential negative side effects of synthetic concoctions (4). Finally, the serotonin release brought on by your smile serves as an anti-depressant\/mood lifter (5). Many of today\u2019s pharmaceutical anti-depressants also influence the levels of serotonin in your brain, but with a smile, you again don\u2019t have to worry about negative side effects \u2013 and you don\u2019t need a prescription from your doctor. How Smiling Affects Your Body You\u2019re actually better looking when you smile \u2013 and I\u2019m not just trying to butter you up. When you smile, people treat you differently. You\u2019re viewed as attractive, reliable, relaxed and sincere. A study published in the journal Neuropsychologia reported that seeing an attractive smiling face activates your orbitofrontal cortex, the region in your brain that process sensory rewards. This suggests that when you view a person smiling, you actually feel rewarded. It also explains the 2011 findings by researchers at the Face Research Laboratory at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. Subjects were asked to rate smiling and attractiveness. They found that both men and women were more attracted to images of people who made eye contact and smiled than those who did not (6). If you don\u2019t believe me, see how many looks you get when you walk outside with that smile your wearing right now. (You\u2019re still smiling like I asked, right?) How Smiling Affects Those Around You Did you know that your smile is actually contagious? The part of your brain that is responsible for your facial expression of smiling when happy or mimicking another\u2019s smile resides in the cingulate cortex, an unconscious automatic response area (7). In a Swedish study, subjects were shown pictures of several emotions: joy, anger, fear and surprise. When the picture of someone smiling was presented, the researchers asked the subjects to frown. Instead, they found that the facial expressions went directly to imitation of what subjects saw (8). It took conscious effort to turn that smile upside down. So if you\u2019re smiling at someone, it\u2019s likely they can\u2019t help but smile back. If they don\u2019t, they\u2019re making a conscious effort not to. Looking at the bigger picture, each time you smile at a person, their brain coaxes them to return the favor. You are creating a symbiotic relationship that allows both of you to release feel good chemicals in your brain, activate reward centers, make you both more attractive and increase the chances of you both living longer, healthier lives. My morning started a complete mess. Anyone in my shoes would have been frowning by the time they hit that caf\u00e9. We can\u2019t always control what happens to us, but I am 100% confident that gracing your face with a grin can seriously change your internal and external experience. Your smile is something that should be worn often, so make it a priority to surround yourself with people, places and things that brighten your day. Vow to be the positive, happy person in your group of friends. Watch funny movies often and be sure to look people in the eye and show them your pearly whites. The world is simply a better place when you smile.   This post originally appeared in www.psychologytoday.com [optin-cat id=2376] Footnotes: 1. Primitive emotional contagion. Hatfield, Elaine; Cacioppo, John T.; Rapson, Richard L. Clark, Margaret S. (Ed), (1992). Emotion and social behavior. Review of personality and social psychology, Vol. 14., (pp. 151-177). Thousand Oaks, CA, US: Sage Publications, Inc, xi, 311 pp. 2. Abel E. and Kruger M. (2010) Smile Intensity in Photographs Predicts Longevity, Psychological Science, 21, 542\u2013544. 3. Seaward BL. Managing Stress: Principles and Strategies for Health and Well-Being. Sudbury, Mass.: Jones and Bartlett; 2009:258 4. R.D. (2000). Neural correlates of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13,11],"tags":[49,14,30,58,60],"class_list":["post-2818","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cosmetic-dentistry","category-smile-stories","tag-confidense","tag-cosmetic-dentistry-2","tag-dentist-abroad","tag-dentist-greece","tag-eri"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gentledentalabroad.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2818","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gentledentalabroad.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gentledentalabroad.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gentledentalabroad.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gentledentalabroad.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2818"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.gentledentalabroad.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2818\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gentledentalabroad.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2818"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gentledentalabroad.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2818"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gentledentalabroad.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2818"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}