Smiling in care is important – it is a simple way to help yourself and others feel happier.
We love this poem by the late, great Spike Milligan.
Smiling Is Infectious by Spike Milligan
Smiling is infectious,
you catch it like the flu,
When someone smiled at me today,
I started smiling too.
I passed around the corner
and someone saw my grin.
When he smiled I realised
I’d passed it on to him.
I thought about that smile,
then I realized its worth.
A single smile, just like mine
could travel round the earth.
So, if you feel a smile begin,
don’t leave it undetected.
Let’s start an epidemic quick,
and get the world infected!
Smiling in care
Smiling is such an easy action that anyone can make. It can have real benefits for the person smiling and those they are smiling at.
Smiling in care is so important – sometimes our clients and their families are dealing with difficult or even overwhelming situations. Smiling and being smiled at can help people to feel more relaxed.
By smiling we are more approachable, which is especially important when meeting someone new or building trust with someone you are just getting to know. Smiling in care helps because it breaks down barriers and supports leads to improved communication.
Did you know that a study has shown that one smile, has the same feel-good effect as 2,000 bars of chocolate? We might have trouble convincing some of the chocoholics in our office team about that!
If you are stressed and tired or overwhelmed you might not feel like smiling. However, a smile can benefit us, and help us to cope. It helps to reduce the level of stress hormones like cortisol, and increase feel-good hormones. So if you see someone who seems a little troubled or stressed, try smiling at them.
To learn more about smiling, watch Ron Gutman’s TED talk about the hidden power of smiling.
Why not make a conscious effort to pass on some extra smiles each and every day.
