Did you know that a smile can heal?
When I did my masters degree, I was allowed to do it on any topic so long as it had to do with education. I proposed the idea that laughter and joy increase learning capacity. I didn’t really believe that they would approve my idea, but when they did, I went to town on all my research. What an absolute blast that was! I was able to discover that not only did laughter increase learning, but it also had the potential to heal the body.
The Simple Power of Smiling
Now, here’s the tricky part: What if you don’t feel happy? What if you don’t want to smile? Health, life, circumstances all have a way of doing that to us sometimes. I’ve been there.
The good news: When you simply crack a smile, powerful chemicals in your brain are automatically released to help you feel better. It seems backwards doesn’t it? But it’s true, these very powerful chemicals called dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin are released into your body and thereby directly affecting your mood and relaxing your body naturally.
This can be an incredible stress buster and also help bring you out of a place of feeling stuck, sad, depressed, or just plain down.
Feeling stressed? Try pausing and smiling.
Another fun fact: When you smile at other people, their brains actually respond by experiencing joy as well. If they smile back at you, you end up receiving a double-boost of joy without having done anything but cracked a smile at someone.
Laughter is powerful medicine
Now, laughter might feel a little harder to get to at times. Turning your face to a smile is the “gateway drug”, but laughter is the promised land. Laughters health benefits have been studied for a very long time.
Psychologists, biologists, and philosophers have long understood that laughter is powerful. It is even mentioned in the Bible as health for the body: “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22). There is an amazing study that confirms this idea conducted by Berk and Tan of the Loma Linda University Medical Center, who have done numerous studies in psychoneuroimmunology (PNI), which essentially says that the immune system is directly connected to the brain (Diggs). In other words, the brain is directly affected by the emotions. In one of their studies, they were able to show that epinephrine and cortisol were lower in participants that laughed than in those who did not.
Conversely, the Mayo Clinic (among many other sources) describes the effects of stress as taking a toll on the physical body, mood, and on behavior.
So, today, try adding a little laughter to your diet. Vitamin “Ha” is your body’s healing secret power. Ha. Ha. Ha.
What to do when you really can’t turn the corner
Learn to ask these 4 questions when you have a tough moment (HALT):
Are you:
- Hungry,
- Angry,
- Lonely, or
- Tired?
If you’re one of these, then “halt” (stop) and take care of these areas first.
Then, you guessed it, crack a smile.
A few ways to increase the joy
- Smile (even when you don’t feel it)
- Try simply laughing at nothing
- Surround yourself with positive people.
- Find a funny movie, meme, or joke and avoid negativity.
- Listen to positive, uplifting music that brings your mood up.
- Get outside (fresh air and sun can also help boost your mood)
Resources
- Diggs, T.S. Laughter: Is it healthy? http://home.hiwaay.net/~garson/laughter.htm
- MayoClinic. (2013). Stress symptoms: Effects on your body and behavior. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stress-symptoms/ SR00008_D
- NBC News – https://www.nbcnews.com/better/health/smiling-can-trick-your-brain-happiness-boost-your-health-ncna822591
- Neuronation – https://www.neuronation.com/science/benefits-of-smiling
- Psychology Today – https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/cutting-edge-leadership/201206/there-s-magic-in-your-smile
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Kirsten Larsen is a wholeness coach, helping people experience freedom and breakthrough in body, soul, and spirit.
