smiling-quotes

A smile is a friend maker

My friend Julie was cooking dinner in her kitchen one night. Her expression was blank as she stood alone working by herself. Her daughter walked in and gasped, __om! What__ wrong?_ She said __othing. I__ fine._ In response, her daughter added, __hen tell your face! You scared me!_ Emotional expressions can easily be misinterpreted when we are not aware of what people are seeing. Being deep in thought can look that way.

Smiling is truly one of the most generous gifts you can give to another. You never know when your smile may inspire the sad, encourage the hopeless, heal a heart, or change someone's world for the better.

Your smile is a magnet for goodwill and positivity. In unison with your attitude, people gravitate to happy people!

What are you projecting? How are you showing up? Are you aware of how your expressions are impacting your communication with others?

You would be surprised how even the simplest of smiles can ease a social situation, encourage another, remove barriers, and dissolve differences. It is not only a gift to the recipient, but you will receive affirming returns on your investment.

When you see people smiling, does it give you a sense of connection with them? The law of reciprocity illustrates it is hard to not smile back when someone smiles at you.

I attended a symposium to hear Shilagh Mirgain, Ph.D. speak on Mindful Leadership. Throughout her program, I made sure to make eye contact and smile to support, affirm, and engage with her presentation. When audience members do this for me, it adds an extra punch of dynamic energy that enriches my presentations and improves my performance.

No matter your age, a smile makes you look and feel better. People spend billions of dollars every year to get pumped, pulled, tucked, and tweaked in hopes of being more beautiful. But there is nothing like a genuine smile to transform your appearance and provide an instant facelift.

As the saying goes, "Smile and the world smiles with you, cry and you cry alone._ Smiling is a universal symbol of happiness that transcends language and communication challenges.

Research has shown that smiling releases endorphins__he happy hormones that shift your physiology for improved well-being. When you smile and your eyes crinkle, your body releases chemicals that change the chemistry of your brain, lifting spirits, and reducing pain. Even when it is hard to smile and you are forcing it, positive changes take place in your physiology.

Smiling Bloopers_ Insincere smiling can backfire! (Different from a shy smile that just beckons a friendly "hello.")_ Transitioning from a smile to a straight face, too quickly, may give others the impression that you are fake or do not like them._ Going overboard and smiling all the time, especially when it is inappropriate, will make you appear insincere._ If your mouth smiles, but your eyes don__, there is a disconnect that can make you appear less authentic and trustworthy.

We are more likely to trust a person who is easier to read; they're easier to believe. Or we tend to think that an energetic and happy person will be more productive. Even traits such as competence, dominance, and courage can be conveyed by certain facial expressions and will stimulate unconscious bias.

Smiling reduces blood pressure by lowering the stress-inducing hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. As my mother, who is now in her eighties, navigates the challenges of aging, her mantra has become, __eep moving and keep smiling._ She has observed the rapid decline of her friends who haven__. She is striving to stay strong, happy, and vital; her desire to smile is helping her to live a healthier, more satisfying, and longer life.

See Your Expressions Through the Eyes of Others. Take the initiative to stand in front of a mirror and practice a wide range of emotions so that you can see what other people are seeing. Video tape yourself and watch your movements and your expressions. You can pick up on clues to what you need to fix and where you could improve your presentation.

A genuine smile is your best fashion accessory and the most important thing you can wear.

Whether you smile to make a great first impression for customer service, building rapport, communicating your intentions, networking, sharing your happiness, closing deals, or demonstrating you are fully present and engaged, smiling is the key to your success.

You can transform your entire physical appearance, personal experience, energy, and social success simply by smiling. And it is also good to do just for you!