Stay on Top With a Smile!

There are certain expressions that are guaranteed to elicit a positive response, and an open and friendly smile is one of them. You know how good a smile from someone else can make you feel? Then make sure you share the feeling by passing your smile on too.

Smiling can be hard when you lack self confidence or are in a bad mood, but the benefits can be manifold so put a smile on your face whenever you can and you'll soon notice a change for the better. Smiling when you are grumpy or unhappy may seem like the hardest thing to do, but a good smile can actually affect the way we feel by tricking our bodies into changing our moods. It's also a great stress beater and is excellent for hiding the tired eyes and overwhelmed expressions stress sometimes causes.

There are plenty of health benefits to putting on a smile too, from lowering your blood pressure to helping you relax and boosting your immune system. One of the reasons that smiling tends to make people feel so much better is the fact that the action releases a number of endorphins; these work as natural pain killers, as well as the mood improving neurotransmitter serotonin. This means that a smile is akin to a natural drug that can enhance our perception of the world and ourselves. With such a small action having such wide reaching impacts, turning a frown into a grin is an amazing example of a quick fix that actually works.

What's more, smiling makes us attractive to other people. A smile will draw someone towards you as they want to share the good news and find out what has made you feel that way whereas a frown or scowl is likely to drive people away. This means that a smile is also a great weapon to help you make the most of your career - not only does it make you appear more confident but it also means that workmates are more likely to approach or promote you.

Smiling also has the added benefit of making you look younger by lifting the muscles in the face. So ensure you make the most of your smile by keeping your teeth in good condition with regular trips to the dentist. A quick scale and polish or a course of teeth whitening treatments can ensure that your smile is on tip top form all of the time.

One of the best things about smiling is the fact that it's contagious, so get out there and start smiling today - your friends, family and colleagues will thank you for it.