The most powerful nonverbal gesture in the WORLD is a SMILE! It has the same meaning and impact regardless of where you live! A smile from a person in Canada, in India, in China, in Africa, in Japan, in Antartica, in the Philippines, and in the USA is the same, even though the languages spoken and the cultures are VERY different! A smile is the universal sign of happiness, shows acceptance, and demonstrates friendliness.

I have done some research and learned that smiling is VERY powerful. I truly believe that if we smile more, we can MAKE the world a better place!

 

Did you know that it takes 43 muscles in your face to form a smile? That’s UNBELIEVABLE!! In total, there are 650 muscles in the human body and 43 of those muscles are in the face! With technology being so popular these days and people communicating over their cell phones, we really don’t look at each other and smile as much as we should! I think that people should lift their heads up from their phones, have real conversations, and exchange smiles too!

 

Watch what happens when you smile at someone. I guarantee they will smile back at you. I try to smile every day. It makes a sad situation a little bit better. Smiles create special memories for friends and family members too! I know that sounds crazy but it’s true!

 

Watch what happens when someone graduates from university and receives their diploma on stage. Their family is beaming with smiles in the audience! Watch what happens when a toddler takes their first steps and looks at their parents for approval with excitement. I guarantee the parents are uncontrollably smiling! I can think of a MILLION other situations when your smile says to the world that you are happy - it is the ultimate connection of humankind!

 

Did you know, when you smile your brain releases feel-good Neurotransmitters, including Dopamine, Endorphins, and Serotonin. These brain chemicals help calm down your nervous system by lowering your heart rate and maintaining your blood pressure.

 

Smiling makes you feel better, more relaxed, and overall happier- so smiling is actually good for you!! The simple act of smiling can lift your mood, lower your stress, boost your immune system, and enhance your life. A smile can literally change your brain’s chemistry!

 

How many times a day do you think you smile? Once, twice or maybe more? You will be surprised to learn that you smile quite often! Adults smile approximately 20-40 times a day whereas kids smile up to 400 times a day!

 

Smiling is VERY contagious! Your smile says a lot - when you smile at someone, you bring them happiness and VERY often they smile back at you!

 

Think about the last time you took a photo...were you smiling in the photo? I know that I always smile when I take a photo - I’m sure you do too! In my family, sometimes we re-take photos because everyone isn’t smiling. The facial expressions on your face says a lot about the way you feel. A smile sends out positive emotions and feelings and that’s really why most people take photos and smile in them!

 

A smile also indicates a feeling of acceptance. It seals a friendship and makes people feel valued and loved. One day you are going to go to a JOB interview, and you really want to impress the people who are interviewing you. You walk into the ROOM and the first thing you need to do is SMILE. You want them to know you are a positive person who is fun to be around and who will turn a negative into a positive and be a good addition to their workplace. Smiles have the power to give off a 'good vibe' or a good impression. I hope you remember this advice when you apply for a job one day!

 

The next time you feel happy, or find yourself in a situation where you feel accepted, or feel valued, or the next time you go to a different country, smile at the people around you and see what happens! I promise you will witness firsthand the POWER of a SMILE!