The Power of a Smile!
Have you ever thought about all the things in the world that have the power to instantly make a situation better? There’s a warm chocolate chip cookie, finding twenty dollars in your pocket that you had forgotten about, a handwritten note from a loved one, a hot cup of cocoa on a cold night, and a phone call from a dear one sharing a good moment with you. Perhaps more powerful than any of these is a smile. Comedienne Phyllis Diller is quoted as saying, “A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.” She’s on to something, don’t you think? She is not alone in this thought process, because in the book of Proverbs in the Bible we read, “a cheerful look brings joy to the heart…”
A genuine smile can lift anyone out of a funky day and can make even the worse of days at least a little brighter. A smile from a friend or a loved one can give anyone a little jolt of happiness. The best smiles, of course, come from our children and grandchildren. Now, I know we parents and grandparents are a little bit biased, but c’mon, they are cute kids and their smiles will literally stop people in their tracks, and make grown-ups act like a circus clown. It’s the power of a smile that makes adults talk in this strange baby goofy language that you will never hear uttered anywhere else in the world. On the other side of the coin, have this baby start crying and see what kind of effect this has on your day! Trust me, it’s not fun! Babies crying does not make my day joyous. How about you? There is great power in smiling. This, of course, is no secret. Did you know that researchers have studied smiling and documented its potential? For the smiler, simply turning the corners of your mouth up actually can cause your brain to release dopamine, a pleasure-releasing chemical. Those who look at your smile (should we call them the smil-ees?) often find your smile to be contagious and can experience their own dopamine “rush.”
Researchers at UCLA found that smiling at yourself in the mirror (as strange as that sounds) can actually fight depression. A Wayne State University study has concluded, “People who smile a lot are usually happier, have more stable marriages, better cognitive skills, and better interpersonal skills.” Also, science has just uncovered another benefit of a happy face. People who have big smiles live longer.
What does all of this research and observation tell us? Quite simply, there is power in smiling. So why don’t we smile more? Why do we look like we have been baptized in pickle juice? Why do so many of us walk around with a scowl or blank look on our faces? We have a biblical mandate to be full of joy, don’t we? For my biblical scholars, growing believers, and curiosity seekers, please look at Nehemiah 8: 10; Proverbs 17: 22; 1st Thessalonians 5: 16; Philippians 4: 4; and John 16: 20-24. Choosing to smile is an act of your will as you meditate on God’s promises.
You, the readers, are dared to take the “Five Smile Challenge.” Simply put, you are going to intentionally give a smile to at least five people each day this week. This shouldn’t be too difficult of a challenge, but it could make a positive impact on your temperament, on your relationships, and on your communities.
Will you take this simple challenge? Smile at the teller at the bank. Smile at the server at the restaurant. Smile at the people you pass while you walk. Smile at your children. Smile at your coworkers during a busy day. Smile while you worship in church. Feel the smile exploding on your face as you think about all the joy you will bring by accepting this challenge. Wheeeee…….I feel a grin coming on……oooh, oh, now it’s a full-blown SMILE!
Let’s do one of the simplest, but most effective things we can do…let’s smile!
John T. Catrett, III
Scissortail Hospice Chaplain 603 North Main St., Suite E Bristow, Ok. 74010 918.352.3080 john.catrett3@gmail.com