influences the length of your life in a positive way. On the
other hand, being grumpy increases the likelihood of a
violent death, heart disease, cancer etc. This is according
to a recent report in American Psychologist.
Dale Carnegie also says in his book - How to Win Friends and
Influence People - "People who smile tend to manage, teach
and sell more effectively, they also raise happier
children."
Another survey found that 75 per cent of respondents thought
that an unattractive smile would be bad for their career.
While a whopping 92 per cent said an attractive smile was a
necessary social asset.
These sorts of reports have been around for years but many
of the people that I come into contact with don't seem to
have received the message. I've attended business networking
meetings where many non smiley people look downright scary.
And they wonder why they don't gain any benefit from their
networking! Many of the people at my local health club look
downright unhappy; you'd think they were there as some form
of penance rather than as part of their fun and leisure
time.
Of course many people don't smile because they're nervous;
they lack confidence or have low self-esteem. Some people on
the other hand actually believe they're smiling when the
face they present to the world could actually turn milk
sour.
Now I'm not suggesting that we all go around with big smiles
on our face grinning inanely at people we hardly know. If
you did that, then the men in white coats would soon be
dragging you off to a place of detention. However, I am
suggesting that we think about the face we present to other
people. By sporting a warm smile at the appropriate time we
can only smooth the path for the people we're dealing with.
We also boost our own confidence and it allows us to relax
and make the most of a situation.
Smiling also stimulates the release of endorphins, the
body's feel-good chemicals, which has an ongoing positive
effect. It's a two way neurological process; when you smile
you literally become happier and when you're happier, you
smile more. If someone gives you an unsolicited smile, you
smile back and in this way we directly affect each other's
moods. Switching on a smile will only bring benefits -
you'll be happier and everyone else will be happier - so
keep smiling!