笑一笑，十年少：保持微笑的五大好处

"Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy." -- Thich Nhat Hahn
有时候你笑起来是因为你高兴，有时候你笑着笑着就高兴起来了。——一行禅师

We often tend to associate smiling as the result of a positive event or mood. But research demonstrates that the act of smiling, in and of itself, can be the catalyst for joy. Wonderful things, ranging from an improved mood to a better relationship, can be the result of the simple act of smiling. Even better, it is a tool that is free, easy and always available. So turn the corners of your mouth upwards and read on about five scientifically backed reasons why you should smile (a lot) more. Hopefully, by the time you're done you'll have learned something new and will be in a better mood!
我们通常认为微笑是喜事或喜悦的产物，可研究表明微笑本身也能够催化喜悦的心情。从提升情绪到增进感情，只要微笑就可能发生一切美妙的事情。更棒的是，微笑不要钱也不用教，随时随地就可以笑。现在就扬起嘴角看看微笑的五大好处吧，这可都是有科学依据的，也许看完这篇文章你就会有新的领悟和更好的心情。

1) You'll Feel Better, Emotionally and Physically
1. 微笑对情绪和身体都有好处

Smiling, even when you aren't feeling happy, can help shift your mood. Darwin posited, back in 1872, that making changes in our facial expressions can shift our emotional experience, something he called facial feedback response theory. Psychological research has validated Darwin's assertion that expressions do not just result from moods, but actually influence them. Additionally, research by Tara Kraft and Sarah Pressman at the University of Kansas demonstrated that smiling can alter our stress response by slowing down the heart rate and decreasing perceived levels of stress regardless of whether the person actually feels happy or not. So instead of waiting for something to happen around you to make you happy, take the power into your own hands and smile your way to a better mood.
哪怕在你并不开心的时候，微笑也有助于提升情绪。早在1872年，达尔文就提出面部反馈响应理论，假设面部表情的改变也会使情绪体验发生转变。心理学研究证实了达尔文的说法，表情不只是被心情决定，反过来也影响心情。另外，堪萨斯大学的克拉夫特和普莱斯曼研究发现，微笑可以减缓心跳速率，降低感压程度，从而改变一个人的应激反应，这与这个人到底开不开心没有什么关系。与其等着周围发生点让你开心的事情，不如靠你自己笑出好心情。

2) It May Help You Live Longer
2. 笑能延年益寿

Smiling more may actually extend your lifespan. Research out of Wayne State University which examined the smiles of baseball players in headshots from the 1952 season found that players with largest smiles lived an average of 79.9 years, two years longer than the average lifespan in the United States. The players who didn't smile at all in their photos lived an average of 72.9 years, seven years less than those with the biggest grins. Additionally, the research by Kraft and Pressman cited above, indicates that smiling may improve heart health by decreasing heart rate after stressful events. So, adding smiling to your health regime of eating well, getting enough sleep and exercising may just add a few years to your life.
微笑能延长你的寿命。韦恩州立大学的一项研究从1952年赛季开始测算棒球运动员头部特写中的笑容，发现笑得最灿烂的那些平均活到了79.9岁，比美国人的平均寿命长了2年。那些拍照时根本不笑的平均活了72.9岁，比笑容灿烂的那些少活了7年。另外，前文引用的克拉夫特和普莱斯曼的研究表明微笑能改善心脏的健康状况，因为微笑能在重压下减缓心率。在吃好睡好做运动的健康体制上再加上微笑，没准还能多活好些年呢。