How to create a happier and more joyful life and where to start from?
When facing uncertainty, a smile is an act of rebellion, an act of kindness, an act of support, an act of despair, but more than that, smiling supports our overall health and vitality and those of the people around us.
Dr Bruce Lipton in his book Spontaneous Evolution explains: “Conventionally, we tend to perceive that emotions are the driving force behind our behavioural experiences. However, new science has revealed an amazing discovery that our physical expressions can drive emotional responses[1]” Our facial expression triggers bodily production of emotional chemistry.
“French physiologist Dr. Israel Waynbaum discovered that frowning triggers the secretion of the stress hormones cortisol, adrenalin, and noradrenaline, which are neurochemicals that inhibit the immune system, raise blood pressure and increase susceptibility to anxiety and depression. Smiling, on the other hand, reduces the secretion of stress hormones and raises the production of endorphins, which are the body’s natural feel-good hormones, while simultaneously enhancing the function of the immune system by increasing T-cell production”
Basically, it means:
Smiling strengthens our immune system
We don’t need to deeply feel emotionally inclined to smile to benefit from it. We just need to smile, just doing it. Even if it feels fake at the beginning, by pushing ourselves to smile and force this positive facial expression, it will be enough to trigger chemistry in our body that is supporting our health
Smiling is contagious! So, if we smile at people, they are more likely to smile back at us, and again, and again. By smiling, we are supporting our own health and vitality. By smiling, we are supporting the wellbeing of our community.
The smile has the power to naturally remove negativity from our life.
I hope that this post helps to understand the importance of smiling. In a time of war (internal or external battle) let us start with a smile to move towards peace and joy.
And if we are not inclined to believe new science, let’s trust these two beautiful souls that worked for peace their whole life. Nelson Mandela and Mother Teresa were smile lovers.
Let’s be wise and master our mind by being all smiles during difficult times!
And if it seems hard, let’s “fake” it until we make it!
Ps: Special tips from Julie Sulpice, French Kinesiologist in Aix en Provence: “Start your day by smiling at yourself in front of a mirror 5min a day for 21 days and let me know how your mood, health, and life has changed. I always end up laughing at myself and just for that good laugh, it’s worth doing it”.
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