SMILE
“The expression one wears on one’s face is far more important than the clothes one wears on one’s back.”
—Dale Carnegie, American author and lecturer.
Smiles are contagious. Humans instinctively mirror other people’s emotional expressions on their own faces. This facial mimicry helps us to empathize with other people and share their emotions.Children smile approximately four hundred times per day compared to just twenty times a day for adults. Much of that is the child mimicking the smiles they see.
Research has shown that smiling releases serotonin, a neurotransmitter that produces feelings of happiness and wellbeing.
Research has also shown that we find others more attractive when they are smiling.
A study out of the University of Wisconsin found that “different smiles have different impacts on people’s bodies.” The researchers discovered that there was sixteen times more of the stress hormone cortisol in the saliva of those test subjects who were exposed to someone with a dominance smile (I’m in control) than there was in the saliva of those who were exposed to a reward smile (Do that again). Our bodies react physiologically to the facial expressions of others.
Your facial expressions are physiologically affecting others and their facial expressions are affecting you.
Smiling when you first meet someone is important in establishing a positive relationship. It indicates that you’re happy to see them and that you’re a positive person. People naturally gravitate toward positive people. People are also more inclined to like someone who they believe likes them. A smile is one of your most important assets. Use it as often as possible.
Facial expressions play a leading role in human interactions because they provide signaling information of emotion, and influence social perceptions. When you smile, studies show you're more likely to be perceived as trustworthy and competent.
Smiling releases endorphins, natural mood boosters, and reduces stress. A smile shows you're willing to cooperate and that you're worthy of another person's time and attention.
This is especially important for sales people, investment advisors, and anyone who interacts with the public. If you want to sell more, attract more clients, or simply improve your own mood and reduce stress – smile more often.
