The Science of a Smile
They say that the word smile is the longest word in the English dictionary. Why?
Because there’s a mile between the s and the e!
Ok, so that’s not strictly true, however a smile is the shortest distance between two people, and that’s been scientifically proven. With a simple smile, we connect immediately with the other person’s limbic system.
According to brain researcher, Dr. Paul Maclean, the limbic system stems from the second level of the development of the human brain, the paleomammalian brain.
The Open Loop
Neuroscientists have coined the term open loop when describing the nature of the limbic system, which houses our emotional centres. Simply put, an open loop system depends largely on external feedback to manage itself. In other words, connecting at an emotional level with other human beings helps us with our own emotional stability and also gives us the ability to come to someone else’s emotional rescue by comforting them or looking out for their safety. It enables us to enter into rapport with someone, essential for successful interpersonal relationships, whether at home, at work or socially.
The majority of us recognise a smile and feel a connection, even from a complete stranger. A smile easily crosses language barriers. The smile was probably the first facial expression you ever saw. What do most people do when they meet a new baby? Yes, smile! And how delighted are we when the baby smiles back? Baby’s first smile is somewhat of a milestone isn’t it?
Studies show that children smile or laugh about 400 times a day compared to adults who register only 17 times or less. No wonder the children look happy!
And isn’t that what most of us want? To be happy? Well, it’s a matter of choice. If your set of 50+ facial muscles are fully functional, then you can smile whenever you want to.
Feel-good juices flow
Smiling and laughing are now proven to be of benefit in many different ways. On a personal level, they include reducing the levels of stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, increasing natural feel-good juices, the endorphins and even making you look younger!
The subconscious mind cannot tell the difference between a real and an imagined experience. A proven fact. The same neurochemicals operate in both instances. So if you think there is nothing worth smiling about, you can fake it and trick yourself. Your neurophysiology will respond accordingly, and your mood lifts. Sceptical? Just try it!
Join in Smile Day
Did you know that the first World Smile Day was in 1999? And in Australia Smile Day is celebrated each year on April 1st – traditionally April Fools Day, – the day we get the chance to smile or laugh at someone else’s expense.
Smile Day is an initiative of the Humour Foundation, a national charity which, amongst other activities, supports the Clown Doctors. These Clown medicos work primarily with very sick children who have to undergo unpleasant medical procedures. They also work in some general hospitals and hospices.
It was Norman Cousins who was behind the introduction of humour wards into hospitals in the USA. This followed his successful conquering of the very painful degenerative bone disease, ankylosing spondylitis. He overcame the disease without pain killers replacing them with plenty of doses of laughter whilst watching funny movies. He found that 2 hours of belly laugh gave him 4 hours of pain free sleep.
And it’s catching…
Smiling is infectious, you catch it like the flu,
When someone smiled at me today, I started smiling too.
I passed around the corner and someone saw my grin.
When he smiled I realised I’d passed it on to him.
I thought about that smile, and then I realised its worth.
A single smile, just like mine, could travel round the earth.
So if you feel a smile begin, don’t leave it undetected.
Let’s start an epidemic quick, and get the world infected!
In the business world studies by Yale University in the USA have found that cheerfulness and warmth spread most easily amongst work colleagues. The resulting upbeat moods caused people to work more effectively and creatively, there was more cooperation and fairness whereupon business performance improved.
Financial rewards
According to Daniel Goleman in his book, The New Leaders, there is now documented proof that good moods increase the bottom line. He quotes the finding that for every 1% improvement in the service climate there is a 2% improvement in revenue. [From the paper by Lyle Spencer presented at the meeting of the Consortium for Research on Emotional Intelligence in Organisations (Cambridge, Massachusetts, 2001)]
What would this do to your workplace? Imagine better teamwork and more creativity.
What improvements would this make at home with your family? Imagine a home filled with fun and harmony. Would your children do better at school? And how much better do you think your health would be? Do you want to be happy?
Then smile and be happy!
What fantastic benefits! Would you like some of them? Well most of them are free!
Here are five things you can do to increase the number of times you smile this month and your personal success.
1. Approach life in a more mirthful way. Look for the funny side of events. I often see situations as though they are cartoons!
2. Fake it! Start with a grin, follow it with a chuckle, throw in a guffaw and then finish off with a good belly laugh!
3. Watch a funny movie, enrol in a laughter class, read a humorous novel or a joke book or listen to The Laughing Policeman! You can see it on You Tube!
4. Have a party with some friends and play some old fashioned games like Charades.
5. Do something for someone else without thought of reward.
All we ask is, if you like this and have been inspired, please share it with your friends.
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If not, please keep it to yourself!