The Only New Year's Resolution You Will Need

I really don’t like the idea of making New Year’s resolutions—they are just so hard to keep for a full year.  Of course, like most people, I do like adopting new habits that benefit me (eating healthier), those I care about (cleaning up after myself) or the world (remembering to bring my reusable shopping bags to the grocery store), but I prefer to start these positive changes throughout the year and one or two at a time, so as not to feel so overwhelmed.

I just found one resolution, though, that seems really easy, and not just for me, but for anyone.  It’s to “smile” more.  Scientists tell us that emotions can be reinforced, and possibly even driven, by their matching facial expressions.  One recent study compared brain scans of two groups of subjects, one with facial Botox treatment (who could not fully frown) and an un-treated control group.  When asked to express anger with their faces, the Botox group had less activity in the parts of their brains involved in emotional processing.  This same group reported feeling “happier,” even when the facial esthetics issue was factored out.

Another study supports the flipside, and the same theory that emotions and corresponding facial expressions might be a feedback loop in the brain.  People, who were asked to frown when subjected to application of heat to their arms, reported feeling more pain than groups asked to make either a neutral or relaxed expression.

This report in Scientific American Mind  (Sept. 2009) was quick to point out that this doesn’t mean people should regularly repress negative emotion and facial responses.  Other studies indicate that suppressed negative emotion can creep into other aspects of a person’s life, and cause them to be “negative people”, or experience decreased cognitive abilities. 

The way I understood this report supports the old adage “fake it ‘til you make it”, or more accurately but less snappy,” gently force a smile until it comes naturally”.

One aspect of smiling that, surprisingly, was not mentioned, was the contagiousness of smiles.  I know that many a sour mood of mine was reversed by a friendly store clerk or stranger on the street who smiled.  Or, how about the cute child with the toothless grin?

What if you aren’t happy with how your smile looks, you ask?  No problem.  There are countless options in dentistry today to improve the look of a smile, and many are simple and affordable.  There is simply no need to wait any longer if your smile is holding you back.  If you like your smile, you’ll smile more and (maybe) be a happier person.

Keep smiling!