We have been told that it takes more muscles to frown than to smile. Scientifically, this is not really true. It takes more muscles to smile than to frown. But the good news is that it takes less effort to smile. Also interesting is the fact that the babies don’t have to learn to smile, it is automatic. Even babies born blind tend to smile when happy. It is as if God created the ability to smile for a reason.
Far more important than this is the fact that a smile has the power to make people feel safe, comfortable and trusting.
John Maxwell, the well-known motivational speaker, tells his personal story about the effect of smiling. He looked at himself in a mirror one day, and said to himself, “I am not good looking.” Then he smiled and noticed an instant and remarkable improvement in his appearance. That is the day he decided to smile more often.
We don’t know the emotions people experience. We cannot fix their problems. But could it be that by a having smile on our faces, we could bring a ray of light into some dark soul’s life?
Proverbs 15:13 says, “A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face, a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day.”
Your smile brings light into other people’s lives. So why not make the extra effort and smile rather than frown. It is a choice.
