Smile!
We as a couple have always been positive people. It makes live so much easier. It’s easy to be positive and feel good about what we are doing when you are talking about and selling vacations all day long! It’s a “Fell Good” product and a great topic of conversation. When we found a national happiness survey conducted by psychiatrist and self improvement guru Dr. Cliff Kuhn, it revealed that 56 percent of Americans are happier today than 10 years ago. The survey, conducted in February 2006, uncovered key behaviors which help individuals become happier without the need for high stress lifestyle changes. The one key factor was a simple smile!
According to survey results, brief contact with others during daily routines contributed to feeling happier. However, the need for periodic disconnects throughout the day were equally important to most respondents. In a paradoxical trend; 73 percent of consumers polled stated that they engage in conversations with strangers when running through daily activities while 65 percent admit to not answering their cell phone every time it rings. The survey also revealed that health ranked most important as a factor to one’s happiness. Current research proves that bringing more fun into one's life aids health by reducing stress and anxiety, boosting morale, enhancing communication, inspiring creativity and maintaining hope.
Reaching out and sharing a laugh, a thought, an observance with a stranger keeps people feeling connected. We talk to strangers all the time, either on the phone or in person. One of our keys is that we smile. Even on the phone! Believe it or not, people can even hear a smile on the phone!
Try incorporating the following habits into one's daily routine to ensure better health and increased happiness:
1. Go the Extra Smile – Increasing “smileage” requires increased smile awareness and a measure of self-discipline. The payoff is that even a “forced” smile changes one's physiology for the better in ways that can be measured – decreased stress, heightened immunity and increased tolerance for pain and frustration. In addition, a smile acts as a “fun magnet,” drawing positive reactions and energy from others.
2. Laugh With Yourself – Laughing with ourselves enables people to quickly recover and learn from their mistakes. It is not a demeaning practice. It actually enhances self-esteem and helps let go of useless self-recriminations. The net result is increased positive energy for healing and growth.
Everyone has the power to be in the 56 percent of Americans that feel happier today versus 10 years ago. Achieve a level of joy and happiness you may not have thought possible. It all starts with a smile.
Doug & Ronda Bauknight
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