Smiles—do they have meaning? Are you one of those people who puts a smile on your face when you know it’s not genuine?  Does your face tell people that your smile is something thatis forced and stiff? Or does your smile shine from within and tend to bring people closer to you?

You might be surprised that recent studies have shown that a “genuine” smile can enhance and benefit your life in ways that you might not realize.  In fact, a genuine smile just might help you live a longer and happier life.

• The power of a smile.
  • Researchers have found that smiling can slow down our heart rate and eliminate stress. This happens even when we are not aware of showing that grin. The simple act of smiling tends to calm our body and soul.
  • The pure act of smiling has been proven to enhance our happiness ratio and creates a more optimistic view of life that surrounds us.
  • Research shows that a genuine full grin has the potential to affect our body in a positive ways & even a “polite” smile can also bring benefits. Health benefits include an increase in those “feel good” hormones, lower rates of anxiety, and relaxed muscles.
  • The Journal of Psychological Science study reports that those who engaged in smiling after a stress inducing tasks had a greater reduction in heart rate than those who had no facial grin.

• What else does the research show?
  • When we smile it sends a message to the brain that signals safety and it translates into real health benefits.
  • The act of smiling sends cortisol to our brain, which lowers our stress levels.
  • A University of California study showed that the intensity of a person’s smile can predict life satisfaction over time and even the longevity of participants.
  • Research also shows that people who smile more tend to elicit more positive responses from strangers and more positive connections.
  • So take a moment and let your smile shine through. The simple act just might help you re-connect with those around you and help you live a whole lot longer!