Smiling Improves Mood

When was the last time you smiled?

Smiling improves mood, increases happiness, and  feels good. For some reason, regardless of how lousy, sad, depressed, or generally unpleasant we may be feeling at any given time on any given day, smiling makes us feel better immediately.

I read a story recently about a psychiatrist who was having a bad day and feeling down.  He used his index and middle finger to contort his lips into a smile.  He explained that something about the mouth smiling causes one instant relief of sadness.  Along the same lines, one doctor induced a mild facial paralysis in his patients, thus making them unable to frown.  He found that any depression they may have been previously experiencing disappeared.

Smiling and laughing makes us feel better. In fact, while I was training in hypnosis, I saw a research psychologist laugh her way into a deep trance state, which she later reported to be profound, healing, and thoroughly enjoyable.  So next time you’re feeling down: use your index and middle fingers and FORCE YOURSELF TO SMILE!!!

In the comments below, tell us about a time when smiling improved your mood.  And remember, for each comment left Effective Family Communication will donate 10 cents to The Haiti Relief Fund (now that’s something to smile about).