A good smile can brighten up the room.
People who frequently smile are perceived to be more in control, at ease and
attractive than those who don't ( (Lau, 1982). However, a genuine smile may do
more than just improve your appearance. New research has found a strong
connection between smiling and your general health and well-being.
GOOD FEELINGS
Smiling can lift your spirits. A study conducted by the British
Dental Health Foundation showed the act of smiling to dramatically improve
one's mood. Dr. Nigel Carter, foundation CEO, stated "We have long been
drawing attention to the fact that smiling increases happiness both in yourself
and those around you, so it is good to receive the backing of this scientific
research. A healthy smile can improve your confidence, help you make friends
and help you to succeed in your career."
AFFECT ON OTHERS
People who smile more often have a more
positive effect on their environment, and are better received by others ( Abel,
MH, Hester, R. (2002). The therapeutic effects of smiling). Feeling "in
place" with your surroundings may be essential to physical and emotional
well-being. The Canadian Statistics Office reports that "Individuals who
felt very strongly connected [in their society] had nearly twice the odds of
reporting excellent or very good health, compared with those who reported a
weak sense of community belonging." A more pragmatic benefit is that
restaraunt workers who serve customers with a smile are observed to receive
larger tips (Tidd & Lockard, 1978) and repeat business (Tsai, 2001).
Smiling can even affect the way one person is recieved by another over the
phone. A study, conducted by Amy Drahota, examined how smiling affects how
people speak and are heard. From her research, she ascertained that "When
we listen to people speaking, we may be picking up on all sorts of cues, even
unconsciously, which help us to interpret the speaker."
STRESS RELIEF
Smiling may help to reduce symptoms
associated with anxiety. Mark Stibich, PhD, consultant at Columbia University,
believes that "If you can slow your breathing down and change your
expression, you may be able to turn around the stress cascade." Chronic
stress does significant damage to to the body and mind. Reducing stress may lower
blood pressure, improve digestion, regulate blood sugar and curb neurotic
reactions brought on by prolonged anxiety.
No comments:
Post a Comment