**SPONSORED CONTENT BY DR. GREGORY M. FRYER, M.D. OF MEDICAL DIRECT CARE**
Every time I go into my local bank branch by exit 1 on Trenton Road, the staff always greets me by name and smiles. This small gesture by the staff makes me want to go into the bank instead of using the drive through and I feel like they genuinely want to see me and have my business. Everyone wants to be accepted and a smile will help you help others feel this way and it will help you feel accepted when someone shares a smile with you.
Today, we will discuss some of the biological and psychological effects of smiling. Do we smile because we are happy or are we happy because we smile? There are many theories on why we smile and if smiling really makes one feel better. The research conclusions on smiling effects vary and are not definitive. We do know that smiling causes an increase in endorphins which give a sense of well-being. There does seem to be at least a small correlation that smiling has transient effects on elevating emotion but probably does not have the ability to cure severe anxiety or depression.
According to the facial feedback theory, emotion can be regulated by behavior, particularly by facial expression. A smile expresses happiness, joy, friendliness, and offers insight to the mind such as intentions, emotions, feelings and attitude as well as showing warmth, empathy, and cooperation. When you smile at someone, most people will smile back which replicates and enhances your sense of well-being. It takes little nerve impulse to smile, but if you are not used to smiling it will take more effort. However, go ahead a take a chance to brighten someone else’s day and smile. Your own day just may well be brightened when you do.
Dr. Gregory M. Fryer, M.D. is a Board Certified Family Medicine physician who has been in practice for over 19 years. He is located at Medical Direct Care, 190 Hatcher Lane, Suite B, Clarksville, TN (931) 221-0902.