The Power of YOUR Smile | Sushmita Walve | TEDxSGGSCC

Key Concepts

• Smiling: Genuine, standard (fake), and its impact on stress recovery and well-being.
• Happy Hormones: Dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins and how smiling can trigger their release.
• Neuroplasticity: The brain's ability to rewire itself through repetition and conscious effort.
• Affirmations: Using positive self-statements to challenge negative beliefs and rewire the brain.
• Muscle Memory: The concept that facial muscles, like other muscles, can be trained through repetition.

Sushita Walve's Journey and the Science of Smiling

Sushita Walve introduces herself as a scientist, engineer, stand-up comic, painter, dancer, entrepreneur, and certified counselor. She shares her personal struggle with major depression, isolation, and unprocessed trauma, during which she hadn't smiled for over a year. Her healing journey began with therapy and a scientific investigation into the power of smiling.

She highlights that human bodies are designed to heal, referencing the body's 37 trillion cells and the support of ancestors. She even humorously mentions how the body might crave specific things like "lemon soda, ginger tea, chickpeas" to aid in healing.

The University of Kansas Smiling Study

Walve cites a study by Terara Craft and Sarah Presman at the University of Kansas involving 169 participants. The study examined the effects of three facial expressions on stress recovery:

• Genuine Smile: Recovered the fastest after a stress test.
• Neutral Expression: Took the longest to recover.
• Standard (Fake) Smile: Recovered faster than the neutral expression group.

This study suggests that even faking a smile can trick the brain into accelerating stress recovery.

The Ripple Effect of Smiling

Smiling at someone releases dopamine in their brain, making them feel good. Studies also show that smiling makes a person more approachable and is contagious, as demonstrated in a study at the University of Absolah.

Meditation Challenge and Happy Hormones

Walve leads a meditation challenge, instructing viewers to:

1. Close their eyes and flash a big smile.
2. Transition to a gentle smile.
3. Take deep breaths while maintaining the smile.
4. Look at a person for at least 6 seconds.

This exercise is designed to produce dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins, the four "happy hormones."

• Dopamine: The reward chemical, released when completing tasks.
• Oxytocin: The love hormone, released when feeling connected.
• Serotonin: Promotes a balanced and calm state.
• Endorphins: Released during physical activity, creating a sense of well-being.

Rewiring the Brain with Affirmations and Smiling

Walve emphasizes that facial expressions become etched into the face over time, creating "free natural Botox" for those who smile often. She explains that the brain can be rewired in real-time through conscious effort and repetition, similar to how one improves at badminton through practice.

She describes her personal experience using affirmations to challenge a negative belief about her money management skills. By repeatedly chanting "I am an excellent money manager," she eventually convinced her brain, which then recalled instances where she had successfully managed money.

Smiling as Self-Therapy and its Benefits

Walve encourages viewers to use smiling as a form of self-therapy, even in challenging situations. She shares a story from her childhood where she laughed while covered in her own excrement, illustrating the ability to find joy even in unpleasant circumstances.

She also notes the external benefits of smiling, such as receiving extra onions from a shopkeeper or being allowed to cut in line at the airport. Smiling makes a person 40% more attractive and chemically more approachable, according to scientific studies published in PubMed.

Conclusion: The Power of Repetition and Emotional Influence

Walve concludes by urging viewers to use smiling as a regular form of exercise and to think of joyful moments to evoke genuine smiles. She encourages viewers to share her resources with those who need help and reiterates the "happy cell" song to reinforce the power of repetition. The main takeaway is that smiling is a powerful tool for improving one's own well-being and positively influencing others.