When someone smiles at me, it makes me feel better and it puts a smile on my face as well. The same holds true when I smile at someone else. Research shows that there are many benefits associated with smiling. For example, people who smile feel better, look better to others, live longer, are happier, do better in life, have more fulfilling and longer lasting marriages and suffer less stress. In fact, a smile is so powerful that it’s the one thing that is used more often than sex in advertising. So, if you want to energize your life in a positive way, try this. Tomorrow morning, before you get out of bed, make the decision that you are going to smile at everyone you come into contact with including your spouse, partner, children, people your meet on the sidewalk, the checkout person at the grocery store, and even the person who cuts you off in traffic. Do this for just one week and take note of how much better it has made you feel and how much more positively those around start relating to you.

One Sentence Wisdom

• “A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.” — William Arthur Ward
• “Smile, it’s free therapy.” — Douglas Horton

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