Why Smile ?

"I have learned, as a rule of thumb, never to ask whether you can do something. Say, instead, that you are doing it. Then fasten your seat belt. The most remarkable things follow."– Julia Cameron

 I wish happy holidays and April Fool’s Day to everybody.  As we know, humor and laughter are both important for well-being so make sure you’re doing it.  How might smiling affect your health? Would you believe that smiling is beneficial to health and happiness? Well, it seems that a smile can slow down heart rate and reduce stress as well. According to one study, even when people weren’t aware that they were forming a smile, felt happier.  Furthermore, a recent study of 170 people evaluated individuals who smiled after engaging in a stress-induced task. The researchers found that those who smiled demonstrated a greater reduction in heart rate than those who maintained a neutral facial expression.  When smiling, we use the muscles around our mouth and our eyes. Supposedly, when smiling, messages are sent to the brain signaling safety which perhaps translates into lower heart rate and stress levels. If that’s so, then smiling affects the neurotransmitters or stress hormones such as cortisol and Oxytocin. Remember that.

Other studies have found that the intensity of the smile can help predict life satisfaction over time and even longevity. The researchers aren’t clear whether smiling reflects a person’s overall happiness or whether the act of smiling contributes to that happiness .Just smile.  

Also, eliminating frowning may have a health benefit as well. If you use Botox to prevent frowning that might alleviate depression.  If you’re depressed, evaluate how much   frowning you are doing. So maybe a treatment for depression might be Botox injections? Remember frowning is not good for your physical health either. In the frowning study, after six weeks of treatment, 27% of the Botox patients went into remission for their depression compared to 7% who received the placebo injections. Another researcher, cautioned against suppressing facial emotion suggesting that by hiding the lines on your face results in feeling less pleasure in response to things in your environment. Also, people and friends won’t be able to read your emotions. So, think before you go out and get that Botox injection.

Another researcher at the University of Wisconsin is exploring whether activating the frowning muscle, known as the corrugator, which is located between the eyebrows is associated with activity in the amygdala. The amygdala is the area in the brain that processes emotions such as fear. Does that mean facial expression causes changes in the brain? Once again more research is needed to answer the question.Source :Wall Street Journal,February 26, 2013.

To be continued

Today, Chris, Alpha, Carrie, Jade, Porter and I plan to run the trail. In the meantime, keep running, laughing and smiling. Go Blue and good luck in the final 4.