It’s a new day.
Take that gift with a smile and use it wisely. You are the
only one that can live your day to the fullest, that can make it count. Always
stay positive and expect only wonderful things to happen to you.
The morning is the most magical part of the day.
The whole world rises, the sun comes up, every flower and
tree blossoms, the park is full of people jogging, taking a walk on the beach
or walking their dogs. Students go to school, other people go to work or simply
start working on their daily tasks.
But the time between waking up and going out is only
yours and if you spend it right, your day can be amazing.
Some research affirms that “smile!” is often excellent
career advice. Here are some why’s and how’s of smiling:
- It
feels good. Smiling can increase the release of endorphins and
other mood-enhancing hormones. It can calm your heart rate and blood
pressure, reduce stress, contribute to a heightened sense of well-being,
and support good health.
- It
looks good. When you smile, there’s a better chance other people
will perceive you as attractive, likable, and memorable. They are also more
likely to find you approachable and see you as trustworthy. And they’ll
think you look younger.
- It’s
contagious. We are hardwired to mirror each other’s happy looks.
When you smile at colleagues or clients, they may automatically return
your expression. More importantly, as you exchange smiles with another
person, the two of you connect in a more fundamental way. They actually
experience the positivity underlying your smile, and as a result, could be
more satisfied with your conversation.
- It
spreads. If your smile makes a team member feel good, his mood
will improve and he’ll be more likely to smile at the next face he sees. The
wave of good feelings can become viral, moving from one person to another.
- Even
fakes work. The most powerful smiles are genuine, emanating from
deep within you. But social smiles, that require some effort on your part,
are effective as well. And they can start a virtuous cycle. If you
struggle to smile, but then I smile back, you will respond to my facial
expression. Soon your tentative smile can become heartfelt.
- You
can get better at it. The more you practice a positive
expression, the more likely it is that you’ll experience spontaneous
smiles. The trick is to start your smile from the inside, by thinking
about something that makes you feel good. Simple techniques include
summoning up the image of a loved one or remembering a particularly happy
event.
If you smile more regularly, the new habit can retrain your brain to see the world in more optimistic ways. The new dose of positivity might boost your creativity and help you to be more productive. An excellent way to get started is to begin each morning with a smile. When you first wake up, summon up a happy thought and practice your best grin. Then your smiles will come more easily for the rest of the day.