[/media-credit] OHS students smile for the camera at a pool party.
When asked what percentage of the day she is smiling, OHS senior Megan Jordan said, “Ninety-six percent – I don’t smile when I yawn.”
Smiling is universal; it is nature’s natural stress reliever.
Psychology Today writer Sarah Stevenson said, “Smiling activates the release of neuropeptides that work toward fighting off stress.” Other benefits include lowered blood pressure and reduced heart-rate.
In reply to the question, ‘On a scale of 1-5, how much do you think smiling affects your mood?’, Hayley Whitlock answered, “Five. Probably ten.”
Her answer coincides with the science performed on the topic of smiling. Not only can a smile reduce stress, but it also brings happiness.
Ding Li, from britishcounsel.org, said, “The happiness level that a smile can bring to our brains is estimated as equivalent to that of having 2,000 bars of chocolate, or getting 16,000 pounds [21,000 US dollars].”
When smiling in public, it is common that other people will smile back at you. Li continues in his article, “A swedish study found that it is indeed difficult to keep a long face when you look at people who smile at you. Smiling is just contagious!”
Diana Baird said, “Hopefully I have a killer smile – not the smile of a killer – that makes people realize there’s a reason to be happy.”
Melissa Arnoldsen
Latest posts by Melissa Arnoldsen (see all)
- Smiling Is Better Than Money or Chocolate - October 7, 2016
