The Power Of Positive Facial Expressions

Why Smiling Surprisingly Matters More than you think

- Dr. Mythili Kolluru

Summary

Throughout history, humans have always faced a range of emotions, like happiness, sadness, excitement, and stress. However, in today's world, with the rise of professional and personal challenges, the situation has become even more severe. Regardless of age, people worldwide are experiencing higher levels of stress. In such an environment, where professionals are constantly evaluated based on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and the world is undergoing unprecedented change, we must appreciate the simple things we can do to transition into a more peaceful, less stressful, and positive way of living. In this article, Dr. Mythili Kolluru, a seasoned writer and strategy consultant, explores the productive power of a simple facial expression: the smile.

Introduction

A smile is a facial expression that involves curving the corners of the mouth upward, often accompanied by the raising of the cheeks and the appearance of the crow's feet around the eyes. It is typically associated with positive emotions such as happiness, joy, amusement, friendliness, and satisfaction. Smiling can be a spontaneous reaction to something pleasurable or a deliberate expression to communicate warmth, kindness, or agreement. Smiles can vary in intensity, ranging from a subtle, gentle smile to a broad, beaming grin. Smiling is a universal human behavior and is often considered a nonverbal form of communication that can convey emotions, establish rapport, and create a positive social atmosphere.

Working in academia can be highly demanding and stressful. I once had a colleague, whom I'll call Sarah (fictitious name), who would often visit our office during break times or on her way to class. Every time she came in, she seemed dissatisfied and would complain about her workload, raising her daughter, and various issues with her students.