The Astonishing Power of Smiling

The Astonishing Power of Smiling

Recently, I watched a presentation on the hidden power of smiling. In it Ron Gutman, the Founder of Healthtap, a research group focused on ways to increase health engagement and well-being of people and patients, presented findings that suggest that smiling, just smiling does amazing things.

Gutman, cited research which found that smiling is related to life span, happiness, well-being and even length of marriage. I don’t know how spurious these findings may be---and yes I was smiling when I wrote the word spurious, but last week, I put this smiling thing to a test.

Now, you should know that I smile big on a regular basis and in some circles I’m even known for my big toothy smile.

 A stranger once told me that he believed that God lived in my smile and I believed that God lived in that stranger.

Anyway, I was telling you about my smiling experiment. I thought it would come naturally, since I already smile more than average, but when I deliberately smiled, I soon realized that I could smile even more; much, much more.

At first I smiled at all children, and then at anything beautiful. Then I took it up a notch and smiled whenever I was frustrated or stressed. I smiled at negative thoughts and then whenever someone was frowning.

This is what I found:

With a smile on my face I could change my own mind and attitude.

With a smile on my face I could change the face of another.

With a smile on my face I could remind a child that this was their more natural way of being.

With a smile on my face, I could not judge another.

With a smile on my face I am much happier.

Don’t just take my word for it; try it yourself.

Watch the video I told you about and share it with someone else.

Ron Gutman, TED, The Hidden Power of Smiling

Then smile and share that too.

Be you, be well, be smiling.

Bertice Berry, PhD.

http://www.berticeberry.com