10 reasons to smile 
Sponsored by www.KeepBritainSmiling.com
A significant component of this campaign centres on the action of smiling. Our online resources including the game, the articles, and 52 ways to beat stress card series are tools at your disposal to keep you smiling.
This article outlines the inherent rewards gained from smiling, and why it’s in your interest to smile as often as possible.
1. Smiling to release happy hormones
Studies have shown that smiling releases endorphins, natural pain killers, and serotonin. Smiling is therefore a natural drug to keep us flying high and filled full of positivity.
2. Smile to spread positive emotions
Emotions are contagious and spread through people’s expressions. We naturally model human behaviour and are therefore nearly always influenced by those around us. Lead from the front and reinforce your own positive state by infecting others with the same feel-good emotions.
3. Smile to improve your mood
Smiling improves your mood, by acting as positive trigger. Through unconscious associations the brain becomes primed to remember times of happiness and enjoyment when you smile.
4. Smile to improve productivity
One of the biggest predictors of behaviour is your internal state. If smiling makes you feel good, positive and more productive behaviours will follow.
5. Smile to relieve stress
When we feel positive, negative emotions such as stress are likely to subside. Smile whenever you feel stressed, to break your negative state.
6. Smile to make you more attractive
When we smile we appear more attractive. It also draws attention to our positive features, and makes us look more welcoming to others.
7. Smiling to boost your immune system
Whenever you smile you are more likely to induce feelings of calm and relaxation. Such states boost your immune system, and improve your body’s defences against potential illness.
8. Smile to improve your relationships
When you smile you improve your personal and professional relationships. Other than appearing more friendly and approachable you are more likely to make those around you feel better.
9. Smile to boost confidence and courage
When you smile you give your emotions a boost. This has a positive effect on your confidence levels, and subsequently the likelihood of taking on challenging and rewarding goals in your personal and professional life is increased
10. Smile to keep your inner-critic at bay
Smiling is an effective strategy to break the grip of your internal critic. By engaging in an external and inherently rewarding action such as smiling, you shift your focus away from your inner demons towards something more positive.
