Smile and Slay your Enemies

Did you smile today? If not, then before you go reading ahead, slap a sweet, genuine smile on your face because it’s the most powerful gesture anyone can have and good things come to those who smile. There may be many reasons for smiling but smile itself doesn’t need any reason

“A smile cost nothing, but gives much. It enriches those who receive, without impoverishing those who give. It happens in a flash and the memory of it sometimes lasts forever.”– Dale Carnegie

Have you ever wondered why you are asked to smile when you click photos? Quite simple because people look more attractive when they smile. The key that fits the locks of everybody’s heart is smile. Smiling can happen within a fraction of seconds. A smile is more than just two little curves on the sides of your mouth. It makes you happy. It makes you feel all impulsive and cheerful inside. Smile have a positive effect on your well-being. It makes you feel attractive, changes your mood, relieves your stress and helps you to be positive always. A smile is the accessory you always take with you. No matter how badly you’re dressed or how crazy your hair looks, a smile will always make you look beautiful. I wish people would smile more often because a smile can say all the words that you are unable to speak. It is a way to appreciate the things god has blessed you with.

Everybody is so uptight nowadays. It used to be when you met someone’s eyes you’d give them a little smile. Children are the most innocent creatures. You always see kids, constantly laughing and smiling around enjoying every moment of their life. Children have no biases for love, if you smile at a child, he/she will beam a huge smile back at you for no reason other than your presence. That’s why we often feel happier around children because they smile more.  

How often do you smile in a day? Researchers have found that on an average children do smile 400 times a day whilst happy people still smile 40-45 times a day. Adults can benefit from taking a lead from children and making more room for smile and laughter in their life. Our facial expression not only communicate our current mood but they have the ability to influence our mood as well. It can make you appear attractive. It will lift your mood as well as the moods of those around you.

Smiling is truly contagious. It not only affects your brain and body but also those around you. I remember, it was a rough morning. First, my alarm didn’t go off. Then I was late getting my things done. Everything around completely wrecked my mood. Then I got to my doctor’s appointment only to realize that I was an hour early. Just great. I decided to walk into our local coffee shop to have a cup of coffee while I was waiting. As I sat under my little grey cloud, a friendly barista greeted me taking my order with a dazzling smile. I just smiled back. In fact, my returned smile remained on my face as I caught myself smiling even while having my sips which was seen by a woman sitting on the table right next to mine. She smiled back. All of a sudden, my day didn’t seem so bad. After finishing my coffee, I headed to my appointment with a grin on my face, spreading my happiness, and receiving it back. We don’t always have a control over what happens to us, but having a grin on your face can seriously change your external as well as internal experience. Always remember, every 60 seconds you spend upset, it’s a minute of happiness you will never get back.

Develyn Steele says,  “Smiling change your attitude, raises your confidence and makes you more attractive.”

It is no secret that our emotional health is closely bond to our physical health. Smiling reduces stress that your body and mind feel, almost similar to getting good sleep according to the recent study. It puts people at ease because getting angry makes things worse. Medical study says that it lowers heart rate, maintains steady breathing and relaxes the body. The moment you smile, your endorphins level goes up thus having a low blood pressure. It can even lengthen our lives.

Smiling is crucial when it comes to first impressions. It encourages the person who you are meeting for the first time. It indicates that you’re genuinely happy to see them. Smiling when having a conversation with someone, makes the person feel that you are into the conversation and encourages them to keep going. A number of people find it hard to smile due to the circumstances in their life. And it’s true, every day may not be the same. There may be days when you feel low and total lost. In such cases the best way to overcome your sorrow is to take a deep breath, close your eyes and remember all the beautiful memories of your life that make you laugh and smile. It will definitely make a difference. It is hard work at first because you are going completely against what your subconscious thoughts are telling you to do, however as you start to change your behaviour you start to feel the shift in mood, continually making it easier. The best antidote for trouble is smile. It wards off stress, depression and sickness because the release of endorphins and serotonin associated with the smile works as a painkiller. It not only boosts our immune system but also lowers the blood pressure, thus preventing us from looking overwhelmed and improving our confidence.

Smiling not only helps improve our personal life but also has a great impact on our professional life. In 2010, a team of economic researchers found that happiness has a significant effect on productivity in the workplace. A good smile can have a dramatic effect on job interviews, making new friends and having a polished and confident professional look. A warm expression can make you appear much more approachable and friendly. They say, that eyes are the mirror to the soul, but a beautiful smile is the reflection of your self-confidence. A smile is the first thing anyone notices about you. It makes the first impression on the minds of others. Employees should avoid frowning at work places. Work done in a displeasure environment is likely to fail than work done in a friendly and cheerful environment.

Smile plays a credible role in your profession irrespective of your designation. No matter what profession, you need people to trust you. When you keep a smile fitted across your face while delivering your message, idea or proposal develops a bond of trust among your employees, co-workers or your clients. Self-belief is necessary to step ahead professionally. An employee who wears a stunning smile is understood to be more enthusiastic about his duties. Have a smiling face is the art of facing everyone and everything peacefully. Hence we can say that, those who smile always pleasingly can make their luck smile on them too.

A live example is from the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who stepped away from bitterness and mingled with his opponents with handshakes and a smile after the Rajya Sabha was adjourned. This showed that there may be differences in their views but they are courteous towards each other. This not only reduces the conflicts between the leaders but also led a positive image among public.

 Andrew Oswald, a professor of Economics at Warwick Business School, proved that employees who smile more often are significantly more productive and creative in the workplace. Business deals can be made simply through smiling. One of the first things that sales people learn quickly is to smile. Who would you rather buy something from? The sales representative who looks bored, angry, frustrated, or from the sales representative who is simply smiling and happy to see you? The messages that they convey in their conversation will link back to how they are feeling. A smiling person would be much more enthusiastic for the product.

There are many famous personalities who have sculptured the importance of smile through their words. One of which is,

“I have many problems in my life. But my lips don’t know that.” – They always Smile - Charlie Chaplin

A wonderful thought by Charlie Chaplin. He had a way with words that makes a person ponder. He explains through his quote that, there’s a lot of problems in our lives that we sometimes forget to smile. No matter how hard you try to not have any problems, you always have to deal with them. That's why it is important to smile at everything that life gives us - Be it good or bad. Don't approach things in a bad mood because they were still going to happen anyway. So smile through your problems and it will make it so much better.

 “Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.” – Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa, a beloved humanitarian devoted her life to help others.               Her legacy still lives today through her simple and profound quotes about the importance of smile. The quotes itself explains us in a very simple language, the impact our smile can have on the life of others.

How can we ever forget the mesmerizing smile of Madhubala and Madhuri Dixit Nene? The stunning smiles of Julia Roberts, Tom Cruise, Halle Berry never fails to impress us. Celebrities win awards for their talent but what makes them win hearts is their superstar smiles. Whenever we see their warm, wide grins, we instantly like them and dream to be like them.

As they say "a smile speaks many languages’. In our shrinking world the smile binds us too. Smiling is an easy way to boost your mood, be healthier, feel better, and appear trustworthy and a better leader. Smiling is easier than frowning, because it takes more muscles to frown then to smile.  It’s good for you, and it makes everyone around you feel happier too. There’s enough sadness in the world already, so smile and be happy, life’s just too short not to!

So it very well goes as per the saying, “A Smile is a curve that sets everything Straight.” Therefore, start your day with a Curve on your face J