Positive Vibrations: The Power of a Smile

You’ve all heard the saying, “A smile is contagious.” If you’re anything like me, you test this theory every day, and reciprocate when someone else seems to be putting this philosophy to the test. If you’re skeptical of this concept, just think back a week – or even a day: When that stranger smiled at you on the street, you couldn’t help but smile back, right? Or when you were having a horrible day last week and the cashier at the local super-market smiled and genuinely seemed to be interested in how your day was going, you couldn’t help but feel lighter when you walked out, could you? This is because smiling is a psychological reaction – a reflex action, really.

What’s in a Smile?

The act of smiling is really a form of greeting—a sort of “signal” that lets others know, “Hey, I’m not hostile.” In fact, research shows that smiling produces a sense of wellbeing and happiness, as well as has a positive impact on your health. When we smile, we are sending out positive vibrations. This positive energy in turn attracts positive people—the kinds of people that build you up and give you the courage to constantly learn and grow. Likewise, hostile individuals—those with negative energies—attract other negative people, people who hold each other back and try to knock each other down. This is why it’s so important to surround yourself with people who make it a habit of smiling, even if it’s just to reassure a stranger on the street.

People Inspire You, or They Drain You – Pick Them Wisely

However, more important than surrounding yourself with people who smile is surrounding yourself with individuals who radiate positive vibrations on a daily basis. Many of you may be familiar with the saying, “You are who you hang out with.” When you were younger, you didn’t quite grasp the meaning of this phrase, but hopefully as you’ve gotten older, you understand that the people you surround yourself with either lift you up or bring you down – they motivate you or they drain you – they support you or they criticize you – they make you laugh, or they make you cry. That being said, just as a smile is contagious, emotions are as well.

However, emotions are much more detrimental if not released in a positive fashion. In fact, emotions – both positive and negative – (also known as “emotional contagions”) can have such a great impact on your mood that they can either positively or negatively impact your work environment, productivity, teamwork, level of customer service, performance and even your home life in profound ways.

As some of us know all too well, even one negative employee in the office can pollute the entire team and create such a toxic work environment that business will actually go down. The negative energies of sour employees can spread like a cancer throughout an entire organization, until the visions and goals of a company are completely hindered by the lack of motivation, support and drive within it. If one negative employee is able to spread their bad attitude discreetly enough, they can sabotage the morale and performance of teams that actually have exponential talent and potential.

The same can be said for negative emotions in the home. If you are a negative person, your loved ones will pick up on that every time they are around you. It won’t take them long to realize the negative impact you are having on their lives, and they will actively try to avoid you. You will notice that they will begin to spend more time away from home, choosing instead to work longer hours or to stay at friends’ houses, until you start feeling the stress of your negativity as well – both physically and emotionally.

You can, you should, and if you’re brave enough…You will

Just like a smile can creep up on you in the streets, or how a good mood can attack after a pleasant interaction at the checkout, negativity can seize you when you least expect it and make it hard for you to shake. But so can positivity. You are not just a creation of your culture, but you are the creator. Your thoughts, beliefs and actions matter – your feelings matter – and the energy you share with others—both positive and negative—really matters.

You can be a negative contagion, or a positive one – it’s up to you. What you choose to be will make a positive impact in your work, your relationships and your life.

See how I can help you achieve a smile that you’ll want to pass on, in an environment that is full of nothing but positive vibrations – visit us at http://www.lakeshorefamilydentist.com/

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