4 Happy Reasons Why You Should Smile More

When people tell you to smile, your first instinct may be to tell them to stuff it. After all, if you're not smiling, it may be because you feel you have nothing at the moment to smile about. Although being commanded to smile is easily one of the most annoying things ever, it's pretty sound advice, for a number of reasons.

Smile, it's free therapy. - Douglas Horton

Even if you're reeling from a breakup or someone has just sneezed crud all over the fresh glazed donuts in the conference room, smiling can make you feel better about your share of life's trials. The simple act of smiling actually changes your mood, according to research. A study by the University of Cardiff in Wales focused on people who were unable to frown due to Botox injections and found that these folks were generally happier and suffered from less anxiety than people whose frowning muscles were perfectly unencumbered and free to rain on their parade.

Another study in 2005, conducted by the British Dental Health Foundation and Hewlett Packard, found that participants' heart and brain activity were as stimulated by imagining a loved one smiling at them as they were by being informed that they'd won a big stack of cash.

The next time you feel down, force yourself to smile. Your mood will likely follow.

Let my soul smile through my heart and my heart smile through my eyes, that I may scatter rich smiles in sad hearts. - Paramhansa Yoganandya

It's true that when you smile, the world smiles with you. Research shows that smiling is contagious, and that's because when we interact with other people, our neurons synchronize with theirs, forming a "neural bridge." The involved "mirror neurons" transfer the sensation that's associated with smiling from the brain of the person smiling to the brain of the person seeing the smile, and that causes the person who's not smiling to... smile.

Smiling at someone who's feeling down or who's all Frowny McCrankypants can help improve their mood. So smile all you can at everyone you meet to spread love and joy and conquer hate and fear. Just think: if everyone smiled at all times, we would be one happy planet.

A smile is a curve that sets everything straight. - Phyllis Diller

Smiling can lower stress and anxiety, according to a large body of research. Even if you're not feeling smiley, the very act of turning that frown upside down tells the brain that you're feeling happy, and your brain believes it (sucka!), and responds by slowing your heart and breathing rate and reducing your stress hormone levels. Even if you have to smile through tears or gritted teeth when your stress or anxiety level is maxed out, do it! It'll make you feel calmer.

Every smile makes you a day younger. - Chinese Proverb

Smiling has been found to promote the production of white blood cells to ward off illness. This strengthened immunity can keep you healthier and extend your life. So watch plenty of comedies and keep that mouth upturned, especially during cold and flu season (but when your co-workers are coughing and sneezing all over your junk, keep wiping down your work station with Lysol wipes anyway — just do it with a big smile for double immunity!)