C‘It is a saying that reads: “Smile, and the world will smile with you”. It’s not just a way of saying: today neuroscience confirms it And he invites us to smile more to feel good. How is it possible? Smiling is one of the simplest and most immediate ways to stimulate dopamine production – the so -called motivation hormone – and lower the levels of cortisolthe main responsible for stress.
Why is dopamine so important?
We live in an era when Dopamine, the neurotransmitter that regulates the reward and motivation system, is often in deficit. When scarce, it may arise anything but read: drop in energy, difficulty concentration, loss of interest for the activities we loveup toanedonia – The inability to feel pleasure.
In the most serious cases, dopamine deficiency is related to disorders such as Parkinson’s, but without reaching much, anyone can experience “off” days due to a low level of this neurotransmitter. Emotionally means feel sad more, isolated and less capable of trying joy. This is why it is essential to know simple and natural strategies to bring it back into balance.
The (scientific) power of a smile
As some psychologists interviewed on Vogue, The smile is much more than an aesthetic gesture. “It has a real impact on our cerebral chemistry,” underlines the psychologist Lourdes Ramón. Neuroscientific studies show that smile – even when we don’t really want to – can change the way we perceive the world.
The reason? The brain adapts to the expression of the face. When we smile areas such as the insula and the reward circuit: this causes An increase in dopamine, serotonin and endorphinssubstances that they reduce stress, lower heart rate, improve creativity and even productivity. A real Wellness elixirall natural.
Smile lengthening life and infects others
It is not just a matter of good mood: According to a search by Wayne State University, those who smile more often live 4-5 years more than those who smile less. A scientific confirmation of ancient beliefs, such as that of the Chinese Taoists who attributed the power to heal the soul to the smile. There is more: The smile is contagious. Thanks to mirror neuronsspreads like a positive wave, improving social connection and creating empathy. “When you smile, trigger an emotional domino that generates well -being in others,” explains the psychologist Laura Palomares.
What if I don’t want to smile?
Nobody has to force themselves: Emotions must be lived all, without repressing them. However, it is useful to know that We can train the mind to look for the positive through small gestures. In addition to the smile, there are other strategies that help to produce dopamine and improve mood, such as Mindfulness, meditation or simple breathing exercisesThat they calm the nervous system and promote a neurochemical balance. Sometimes we think that happiness requires great changes, but in reality the well -being is built with small daily habits. In conclusion, A smile is free but it is worth gold for mental and physical health. So why not smile more often?
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