A Guide to Understanding What Makes You Grin

It’s pretty reasonable to assume there is a scientific explanation for most everything in the world and it’s no different for smiling! It’s not something we think about often. It’s a visceral reaction that at its most effective times requires little to no thought. It’s not a learned behavior and is intrinsically one of the first expressions we have as newborns, sometimes within the first two hours of birth.

Would it be surprising to know the average adult smiles around 40 times a day? That’s good! This means they’re authentic, and an authentic smile has been scientifically proven to reduce anxiety, lower blood pressure and your heart rate; it truly is the best medicine. And guess what? Even a “fake” smile has been proven to improve your mood; it tricks your brain into thinking you are indeed happy. The better you feel the better the people around you will feel. Smiles are contagious, so spread the love! (more…)