Something to smile about

Stressed out and sour over dealing with dangerous drivers, I sit at my desk desperately waiting for the kettle to boil so I can brew the strongest cup of English Breakfast tea possible. I’m not sure how I am going to face anyone coming to my library, and then, the answer comes to me in a very small book called Smile: The Astonishing Powers of a Simple Act (TED Books Book 9) by Ron Gutman.

The command only cost me US $2.99 to download on my kindle.

In March 2011, the TED talk people invited Gutman to present research he had done on “The Hidden Powers of Smiling” . That lecture he did for those famous Technology, Entertainment, Design (TED) talks, morphed into a TED book, which is only 48 pages long. That’s about the average size of all the TED books that are based on TED Talks because the talks are only 20 minutes long.

When he’s not giving a TED talk, Gutman collects data on health and presents ways in which people can take control of their health.

He doesn’t really tell us anything we don’t know already if we only take the time to observe or realise it: smiling helps us to feel better. It’s actually possible to set our mood for the day: anger, frustration or happiness merely by acting it out first thing in the morning. Of course, as Gutman points out, there are people who smile or laugh to mock or to cover some insecurity, but a smile that comes from the heart – or even lower like the gut—can help us to feel better. It is also likely to set the mood for those around us.

I remember jobs I have had where all I wanted to do was stay out of the boss’ way for the day, and I remember bosses who set the mood for the day with a smile.

Gutman says, “I learned that smiles have incredible transformative powers. I learned that they can defuse tension and create trust. I learned that smiles can dramatically and quickly change social situations, breaking down barriers while forming connections and fostering happiness.” In other words, smiles can create a positive network linking people together in a way that uplifts the spirit and sparks creativity or productivity.

It’s a powerful tool – especially in the business place.

So why do we forget to smile? Why do we forget how useful smiles have been since we were babies? Babies smile in their sleep. Babies smile at people and figure out very early, Gutman says, that smiles can get a reaction out of people. Babies know this, and we forget it.

We forget, as Gutman says, that “something about smiling is fundamental to who we are and how we naturally connect with others.”Gutman also points out that smiling has all kinds of medical benefits.

It relieves stress and reduces the time that it takes to physiologically recover from stress.

It returns people to baseline levels of cardiovascular activity which helps the body to deal with stress effectively.

If smiling helps us feel better, then it must follow that it helps us to fight depression. It must help us to stack up those endorphins that we work so hard to stack up in exercise.

Gutman passes on some words of wisdom from Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch who is credited with saying, “A smile costs nothing, but gives much. It enriches those who receive, without making poorer those who give.

It takes a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever.

It is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you a smile…” (or too unwell, I might add).

Smile ,and other TED books, tend to be inspirational books chock-full of practical advice. They are enjoyable for adults, and they’re also a great way to ease reluctant teen readers into reading. They’re short, and that makes them less intimidating.

Reluctant readers quickly get a feeling of accomplishment from reading these books.

They also get a quick look at good writing, which can help them to become better writers at school.

Many of the TED books only come as kindle e-readers, but kindles are a good investment for both bibliophiles and reluctant readers.

Technology helps to encourage readers, and it makes book buying a whole lot cheaper so smile.

There is something to smile about today.