SMILE

BENEFITS OF THE SMILE

Lately much has been discussed, the issue of the benefit of hugs, we can even find videos of social experiments of giving, free hugs, but the truth is that I'm not much, of giving hugs, and only do it with people who are very close to me, and I started thinking about the smile that never fails me and I can smile at people who do not even know, well, in certain cases.

But, what are the benefits of a smile? 

With this communicative and universal facial gesture, that is to raise the corners of the mouth mild, as if you were laughing, but you noiselessly shows and transmit many feelings, emotions and attitudes, such as: joy, happiness, pleasure, satisfaction, comfort, confidence, gratitude, predisposition towards others, etc. 

It is a reflection of a state of optimum health, but may also be the way to health. Smiling is free, easy, and rewarding; rewarding us with longevity, prevention of depression, increases energy, creativity and opens social doors.

"The smile costs less than electricity and gives more light."
Scottish proverb

According to psychologist Paul Ekman, an expert in the study of emotions and facial expressions, there are 18 different kinds of smiles that come from the combination of 15 facial muscles. 

"Forty muscles are needed to wrinkle a forehead, but only fifteen to smile."
Swami Sivananda

Of all the smiles, the most powerful, is the genuine smile, also called the Duchenne smile, ie that which arises spontaneously in your face, sincere and natural. 

Between a genuine smile and a smile that it is not, the difference is that in the first the limbs of the mouth along with the cheeks are raised, and marked, the famous crow's feet, while in the second only move the muscles in the mouth.

• Smiling makes you happier.
  Your brain releases endorphins, which are natural substances produced by the central nervous system, stimulating the brain's pleasure centers and that make you happier, regardless of if you smile when you are sad or when you're happy or if you smile so naturally or forcibly.
• It slows the heart rate.
  People that smile more often are less likely to suffer a heart attack, this is because the heart works effortlessly reducing blood pressure temporarily. 
• Improving social relations.
  When you smile you look closer, approachable, gregarious, outgoing, friendly, reliable, generous, polite, positive person, which helps you empathize, to more easily relate to others and to improve the links established. And the smile is contagious, this contagion is caused by the effect of mirror neurons, which are the cause of that to observe a gesture or conduct, imitate immediately, so if you smile at someone it is more likely that person will return the smile, either consciously or unconsciously, causing positive changes in the emotional state and which helps you get closer. 
• It helps to achieve the objectives.
  When you smile people that are around you perceive you as someone self-confident, competent, able to cope with the problems and with good self-esteem, which can help you achieve those goals that you propose. And the smile attracts, which increases the chances of achieving your goals when trying to convince someone. 
• Reduce your stress level.
  Smiling is a very effective anti-stress mechanism. When you smile your brain releases a series of very beneficial substances for your body, such as endorphins, which improve mood and contribute to descend the stress-related hormones, such as cortisol, adrenaline and dopamine, resulting in a decrease the level of stress on the person. 

 "Start each day with a smile and keep all day."
W. C. Fields

Now they know this free tool helps us a lot, so smiling, so worth it.