Norm Writes
  • Home
  • Who in the World
  • Blog
  • Postcards
  • Why I write

The science behind smiling and laughing.

1/31/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
When was the last time you laughed?

I mean REALLY busted up and fell out uncontrollably; jaw hurting; snorting out of your nose; almost peeing your pants; like you were drunk with your best friend-laughed? It felt pretty good, didn't it? Well, that's no accident, as there are actually scientifically-proven benefits to smiling and laughing, both physically, mentally and emotionally, and, of course, socially.
 
"Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy." -Thich Nhat Hanh
 
The health benefits of smiling and laughing:
 
Smiling and laughing release the feel-good neurotransmitters dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins, flooding our bodies with messages that manifest in health benefits.
 
The simple act of forming a smile uses anywhere from 5 all the way up to 53 muscle movements. In fact, it takes far more muscles for you to form a frown than smile – so smiling should be our natural state.
 
The endorphins your brain secretes when you smile or laugh act to naturally reduce pain levels in the body.
 
Laughter improves your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulating vital organs like your heart, lungs, and muscles.
 
"A smile is an inexpensive way to change your looks." -Charles Gordy
 
Smiling and laughter also reduces the levels of stress hormones your body produces, making it the best natural remedy for anxiety and stress.
 
The hormone serotonin that’s release when you smile or laugh works to boost your mood and lift your spirits, acting as a natural combatant against depression, stress, and anxiety.
 
"Always remember to be happy because you never know who's falling in love with your smile." -Unknown
 
Laughing naturally lowers blood pressure, which reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
You might be surprised to learn that laughter also improves cardiac health, burning about as many calories per hour as if you were walking at a moderate pace.
 
When you laugh or smile, your body produces more T cells, specialized immune system cells that help boost your immune system and fight sickness.
 
It also reverses the toxic physical manifestations of negative thoughts and stress, which helps you from getting sick.
 
How smiling and laughing impacts those around you:
 
Researchers at the Face Research Laboratory at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland found that subjects found that both men and women rated images of people who smiled more attractive than those who did not.
 
Human beings can recognize a smile from up to 300 feet away, making it the most recognizable of all facial expressions.
 
"Every day you spend without a smile is a lost day." -Unknown
 
A study published in the journal Neuropsychology found that looking at person who is smiling or laughing activates your orbitofrontal cortex, the region in your brain that process sensory rewards. So when you smile or laugh, it will trigger that "sensory reward reflex" in other people who see you, and you'll be perceived as attractive, reliable, and sincere.
 
You may have heard that smiling or laughing is contagious, but it's been proven scientifically. The cingulate cortex in your brain is the area responsible for unconscious automatic responses, so when someone smiles, others will naturally mimic their expression.
 
It’s been shown that generally, women smile more than men, but the more they engage in the same work or social roles, the more they smile at equal rates.
 
"All the statistics in the world can't measure the warmth of a smile." -Chris Hart
 
The social science of smiling and laughing:
 
A researcher from UC-San Francisco identified 19 different types of smiles that fit into two categories: polite “social” smiles and sincere “felt” smiles.
 
Smiling makes you more attractive than wearing makeup! A study by Orbit Complete concluded that 69% of people find women more attractive when they smile compared to when they are wearing makeup.
 
"Everyone smiles in the same language." – Unknown
 
Across all cultures, religions, and areas of the word, smiling is the one and only universal sign of happiness, acceptance, and friendship.
 
It's probably no surprise that we smile less at work than we do at home. In fact, a study found that 30% of subjects smiled five to 20 times a day at work and 28% smiled over 20 times per day at the office.
 
That could help you move up the career ladder. Smiling more at work actually helps you get promoted, as studies show you’ll be perceived as more attentive, confident, confident, hard working, more of a team player, and a better listener if you smile than if you don’t.
 
"Laughter is an instant vacation." -Milton Berle
 

Did you know that babies are born with the ability to smile? Researchers have discovered that it’s not a learned behavior but one that is innate, even at birth.
 
But the first real conscious smile comes around the four to six-week mark for most babies, as they are awake and in command of their neurological functions enough at that age.
 
According to Dr. Wayne Dyer, famous positive thinking guru, it is impossible for you to be angry and laugh at the same time – your brain and body cannot fully foster both of those emotions at the same time, so the conscious choice to smile or laugh helps you let go of anger.
 
"Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing." -Mother Teresa

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed


      Receive a digital postcard from Norm every month:

    Yes, I want a postcard!

    Don't miss Norm's new book,
    The Queens of Dragon Town!

    See More

    Norm Schriever

    Norm Schriever is a best-selling author, expat, cultural mad scientist, and enemy of the comfort zone. He travels the globe, telling the stories of the people he finds, and hopes to make the world a little bit better place with his words.   

    Norm is a professional blogger, digital marketer for smart brands around the world,  and writes for the Huffington Post, Hotels.com, and others.

    Check out South of Normal his Amazon.com best-selling book about life as an expat in Tamarindo, Costa Rica.

    Cambodia's School of Hope explores education and empowerment in impoverished Cambodia, with 100% of sales going to that school.

    The Book Marketing Bible provides 99 essential strategies for authors and marketers.

    Pushups in the Prayer Room, is a wild, irreverent memoir about a year backpacking around the world.  

    Follow Norm on Twitter @NormSchriever or email any time to say hi!

    Categories

    All
    Advice For Writers
    Amazon
    American Exceptionalism
    Anthropology
    Asia
    Backpack
    Basketball
    Best Seller Lists
    Blogging
    Book-marketing
    Book Review
    Book Reviews
    Cambodia
    Charity
    Child-poverty
    Cloud 9
    Communications
    Costa Rica
    Crazy-asia
    Culture
    Dumaguete
    Education
    Environment
    Ethics In Writing
    Expatriate
    Favorite Song
    Festivals
    Fraternity
    Funny
    Future
    Geography
    Give A Photo
    Giveaway
    Giving Back
    Health
    Heroes
    History
    Hugo Chavez
    Human Rights
    Humor
    India
    Islands
    Itunes
    Laugh
    Maps
    Marijuana
    Martial Arts
    Memoir
    Music
    Nature
    Nicaragua
    Non Violence
    Non-violence
    Ocean
    One Love
    One-love
    Our World
    Philanthropy
    Philippines
    Population
    Positive
    Positivity
    Postcard
    Poverty
    Pura Vida
    Pushups In The Prayer Room
    Race
    Reviews
    Safety
    San Juan Del Sur
    Science
    Screenplay
    Self Publish
    Siargao
    Social Media
    Southeast-asia
    South Of Normal
    Speech
    Sri Lanka
    Story
    Surf
    Surfing
    Tamarindo
    Thailand
    The Philippines
    The-queens-of-dragon-town
    Tourism
    Travel
    United Nations
    Venezuela
    Work From The Beach
    World Health
    Writers Forum
    Writing
    Writing Forum
    Writing Your First Book

    Archives

    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

Norm Schriever

Email:     [email protected]