SMILE

I will always stand by the quotes (as lame as they may be) 'smile and the world will smile with you' and 'smiling/laughter is the best medicine' - not only because they're positive things to say but they're also, kind of, biologically true!

• Smiling sends messages to your brain that you're happy (even if you're not). This causes your body to release all types of 'feel good' endorphins. I always tell my friends if they're upset to just try and smile and they'll eventually feel slightly better again! 
• Smiling is contagious! It's been scientifically shown that those around you may adopt the same facial expressions as you without even realising - making them smile too. 
• Smiles are the most attractive thing you can wear and are usually the most appealing thing to the opposite sex.
• Smiling can help with stress as it can help reduce symptoms of anxiety! Similar to my first point, when the body signals to your brain that you're smiling, your heart rate and breathing rates will slow down - calming you down. Whenever I'm struggling doing those tortuous last reps, I often find myself smiling to get me through it and yesterday I even started to laugh a bit. I acknowledge that this probably looks slightly psychotic, but if it works, then hey! 
• Because smiling makes you more relaxed it can potentially boost your immune system.
• Smiling will often result in laugher. I laugh a hell of a lot, so I was ridiculously happy when I read an article that studies have shown that it actually burns a significant amount of calories and acts as a 'mini workout' for the abs! Laughing also helps reduce stress, improves sleep and helps the blood flow around your body.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  NOW put a smile on that face!