Smiling in France, in the street to a stranger is considered as stupidity but in the USA or Canada, it is a form of respect for the other and a form of open-mindedness, moreover, smiling is a form of communication. It brings a total well-being for oneself but also for the people around.
It causes joy. :
“Smiling provokes the emotion of joy and lowers the volume of symptoms of sadness. It allows us to relax”, warns Isabelle Crouzet, author of La Force du sourire (JC Lattès). Smiling releases endorphins and brings instant happiness. “A smile is more than a manifestation of joy. It is a kind of Velcro that holds us together and a remedy against many ills. In France, we need to discover its benefits. “.
In 2008, British researchers calculated that a person’s joy spreads to friends of friends of friends. That is, three degrees of separation. “Knowing someone smiling and happy within a mile of your home increases the likelihood of becoming one in turn by 25%. If your neighbor is happy right next door, your chances increase to 36%. Having a happy friend increases your chances to 42%,” says Isabelle Crouzet.
In “La Force de sourire” , the author has conducted a real investigation into smiling, whose many benefits we tend to forget, for ourselves, for others, for all of us collectively. Through discoveries in psychology, neuroscience and sociology, as well as numerous personal anecdotes, she demonstrates that smiling is at the heart of our social relationships and our well-being. She takes us on a journey to discover the secrets of smiling:
– A single smile is enough to slow the heart rate, lower blood pressure and reduce the level of cortisol, the stress hormone.
– The more you smile, the happier you are. Smiling causes joy as much as it expresses it.
– Smiling defuses conflicts, controls and regulates emotions and social interactions. It establishes connivance in a world that is increasingly dematerialized.in France, we are stingy with smiles. What if smiling was only the emerging part of serenity, self-confidence and benevolence? Because smiling is the first step towards a fulfilled life.
– Smiling is instinctive, but we can bury it under layers of prejudice and bad habits. We can live as if it were rare and expensive, when it costs nothing and is contagious.
Why do you think the Mona Lisa is so successful? Because she smiles!
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