Elianna Lev, Special to QMI Agency
It seems that legendary comedian Phyllis Diller was on to something when she said that a smile is a curve that sets everything straight. An increasing number of experts, from motivational speakers to registered psychologists, want to straighten out the masses through the power of a smile.
Thomas Flindt is one of them. The Danish “laughter guru” and author of the book “Happy Lemons” spends his life teaching big businesses how to be more productive through the simple acts of smiling and laughing. (It’s no surprise that Flindt is from Denmark, a country that’s consistently ranked as one of the happiest in the world.)
He stresses that the physical act of laughter – pushing deep into your diaphragm – easily allows you to surrender to the moment.
“It’s like seeing the moment just as it is,” Flindt says. “Believing that something in the future will make you happy – a better job, a relationship, a new home – you’re not allowing yourself to be happy in the present.”
Nicole McCance, a registered psychologist based in Toronto, echoes that sentiment. Having written a book on depression, McCance regularly teaches her clients about the power of smiling. She says it’s easier than most people realize to trick your brain into thinking it’s happier.
“In this moment, when you’re feeling emotionally neutral, if you put a smile on your face, consciously it will tell the emotional centre in your brain that you’re happy,” McCance explains. “We’ve been socialized to think, ‘I’m smiling, therefore I must be happy’ and we begin to actually create that in the moment.”
Flindt and McCance have additional tips on how to change your perspective, and your life, by laughing and smiling more often.
Connect to your body
“Laughter isn’t in the mind, it’s in the body,” says Flindt. “Since everything runs through the mind, we’ve forgotten the intelligence of the body.” He suggests doing something that involves movement, whether it’s running, jump rope or going dancing. Flindt even suggests buying a mini trampoline for the office, to boost people’s moods and energy.
Play more often
“A step to being more creative and having more fun is to be playful,” says Flindt. He says that starting an office league will encourage not only high moral, but creativity amongst the workplace. “When we laugh together in a group, we connect on a deeper level,” he says. “Laughter is so important to get into your daily work.”
Practice in the mirror
McCance suggests getting in the habit of smiling at yourself in the mirror, particularly before an interview or high-stakes event. “It helps you perceive things as more positive,” she says. Although she admits it might feel odd at first for those who aren’t in the habit of smiling, it gets easier with time. “Try it on,” she says. “We look better when we smile.”
Just laugh
Danish laughter guru Thomas Flindt stresses that the physical act of laughter “pushing deep into your diaphragm” easily allows you to surrender to the moment.
Put a smile on your face
Nicole McCance, a registered psychologist says it will “consciously it will tell the emotional centre in your brain that you’re happy.”