5 reasons why you should smile more

A smile is one of the most simple, inexpensive and wonderful things in the world.

Still, often we forget about this one powerful action while we get lost in the details of today and tomorrow. We feel tired and we got too much to do at work and we got to pay the bills and why did I get the grumpiest cashier at the supermarket.

Here are 5 reasons why smiling as often as you can will put more positivity into your life.

1. You will get a boost of happiness – try forcing yourself to smile for thirty seconds right now. The great feelings that make you smile works in reverse too. By making yourself smile, no matter how you feel, your body will start to release all those wonderful chemicals that makes you feel happy. Try it right now and feel the difference.

2. A smile changes your state – if you feel frustrated, angry or bored a smile changes your emotional state. And a positive state is not just more fun but also opens up to other possibilities in your mind. You will see the world differently through a happier lens. And then you can start building on that to have a string of positive actions and interactions with other people throughout the day.

3. A smile changes other people’s state – walking into a room or up to the counter in a store with a smile on your face can make a world of difference. People will smile back at you and be more helpful and any social tension or awkwardness will melt away. And your interactions will be more open, relaxed and filled with fun and possibilities.

4. Well, why shouldn’t you smile? – when choosing between a frown, a blank expression or a smile the last choice seems to be the most productive and positive choice, doesn’t it? Sure, often you will forget to smile or maybe you just don’t feel like it. But if you try to remember it and use it more often you will soon develop a new habit.

5. It’s easier to smile than doing the opposite – you actually use less muscles while smiling than while frowning or making an angry face. Well, that’s probably what you have heard at least. Barbara Mikkelson over at Urban Legends Reference Pages reaches a more uncertain conclusion. But still, if you start smiling more your smiling muscles will soon become stronger than your frowning muscles. And it will become easier and easier to smile than doing the opposite.

Reading one hour a day could change your life

Here’s one very simple yet potentially life changing advice I first heard from Brian Tracy. Cut down on the TV at night by just one hour. Instead use that hour to read books that could improve your life.

If you’re in sales, google or browse amazon for what other people think are the best and most useful books on improving your sales.

This of course applies to all fields, not just the workrelated ones. Maybe you want to improve your health, become a more energetic person with a better looking body. Or maybe you want improve your productivity, your relations or perhaps do some general personal development.

One hour a day is not much. But if you read for one hour a day on weekdays that’s about 260 hours a year. That’s a lot of books and loads and loads of useful advice.

If applied who knows what great things and feelings could come into your life this year.

Also, all that cool information and useful advice will start to open up your mind. You will start to see more possibilities in your everyday life.

Now, now you might think something like this:

1. I really don’t have the money…

Answer: Visit your local library or search their database if they got a website. Or look for used copies in places like amazon.com or some more local alternative if you’re outside of the US.

2. Yeah, ok, but I really don’t have the time…

Answer: Buy the books as audiobooks and listen to them in the car whilst driving to and from work. Or transfer them to your mp3-player and listen while riding your bike/bus to work or school. Recently selling audiobooks directly through mp3-downloads have become popular. It’s probably something we will see more and more as people and companies discover this easy (and if the technology works) smooth way of shopping.

So start browsing for recommendations on books or ask your friends and collegues.

And shut of the tv a little earlier and start reading this week.