National Smile Power Day
You've probably heard that it takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile. But, somehow, over the years, most people tend to forget this. Babies smile about 400 times a day, while the average adult only smiles 20 times. Today is a day to fix this and to smile at everyone you come across.
Why is the word "power" associated with today? Perhaps it is because smiling has the power to change someone's day around, and help them to smile too. We all have mirror neurons in our brains, that are activated when we do something or see someone else doing something. These neurons fire when we smile or see someone else smile. It doesn't take much to get someone else smiling, and to feel the benefits of it.
Smiling has many benefits for ourselves as well. Smiling not only reflects our current mood but has the power to change our mood. As we change our face muscles into a smile, this can shift or reinforce our feelings, and our mood will begin to align with the emotion on our face. Even fake smiles can make us feel better, and by doing this, we can train ourselves to embrace happiness more often.
There are countless other benefits to smiling. It can reduce our blood pressure, heart rate, pain, and stress. It can increase endurance, strengthen our immune system, and even help keep the cells in our body healthy. Smiling can boost our productivity and make us more creative, and make us seem more courteous, competent, likable, and trustworthy. There really is no downside to smiling—not in the way it looks, nor in the results it brings.
How to Observe National Smile Power Day
Celebrate the day by smiling, in order to have a positive effect on yourself and others. Start your day with a smile, as an initial smile will help lead to more smiles later on. Then, once you are warmed up, smile at others throughout the day, and witness the power your smile has!