The power in a smile.

Here is something interesting to remember and hopefully pass on.

As we all know our facial expressions reflect our emotional states. I’m happy so I smile, I’m angry so I grimace, I’m miserable so I frown.

We see it on other people. We have an idea of what people are going through by looking at them as well as listening to them.

I started pondering this while watching the marathon runner Eliud Kipchoge win the London marathon and then complete the impossible by breaking the 2 hour mark in Vienna. When things looked hard, he smiled. He smiles when the going gets tough. In interviews he says that he does this because he has a choice...and he chooses to smile.

Then I read some work by the psychologist Paul Ekman. He points out that although a smile is a reflection of how we feel it actually goes both ways. ⠀⠀
Smiling can actually affect your emotional state. Just the physical act of using your smile muscles can make you feel happier.

Given this research we can effectively invite calm and happiness in by smiling a genuine smile.

Smile. Smile a little or smile as if you are really, really happy.

When you do this you may create changes in your autonomic nervous system. Shifting us from the sympathetic to the parasympathetic and thus keeping that flow of oxytocin going.

And this may lead to? An easier, more joyful, less anxious birth.

So smile.

Caregivers and birthers. Smile and see how you feel 😊