Why do we smile?. Most people will give an automatic answer: we smile because we feel happy. That answer is right, but there ismore to the story than that. It turns out smiling is not just a result of happiness. It is related to how healthy we are. Smilingreduces stress and lowers blood pressure, contributing to our physical well-being. It also increases the amount of feel-goodhormones in the same way that good exercise does. According to William Fry, a prominent pioneer in laughter research, oneminute of smiling is equal to ten minutes of physical exercise on a rowing machine. And most of all, smiling reflects andinfluences how we relate to other people.↵
Social scientists have studied smiles and discovered important facts about them. Professor Marianne LaFrance, for instance, saysthat smiles have multiple functions that we perform naturally because we are social beings. From the time we are babies, wesmile to make and maintain our social relationships. We use smiles to make new friends because people are naturally attracted tothose who smile. We also smile when we face difficult or embarrassing social situations. In such circumstances, a smile can reduceconflict and embarrassment by conveying the message, I hope you can forgive me. As people say, Smile, and the whole worldsmiles with you. Smiling is clearly good for us and for our relationships. We can even get some of the benefits of smiling just bymaking ourselves smile. Having a difficult day?. Try smiling at the people that you meet. Feeling low?. Try making others smile.Seeing them smile will make you smile too because smiling is contagious. Even when we are alone, it can make us feel moreconnected and part of a community. Smiling faces on social media can cheer us up, helping us remember that we are related toothers. So smiling is more than just a way to say, I′m happy. It is our way to connect to the world.