Day Seven’s Challenge:
Smile at three strangers or co-workers or neighbors today (and every day).

Smile

Day Seven’s challenge is another of those that you should incorporate into your daily routine, and like the other daily routine challenges, it takes mere seconds: smile.

Remember how every day you’ve been smiling at yourself in the mirror? Now make it a point to smile at three strangers or co-workers or neighbors today. How is this self-care? Because your confidence level has risen over the past week and it’s time to flex that muscle. As a bonus, most people will smile back.

This is a double-whammy health benefit. You release endorphins and serotonin when you smile. Endorphins are natural painkillers; serotonin is a natural antidepressant. Smiling reduces stress and can even boost your immune system. All that goes on when you smile. When someone smiles back at you, you get an extra dose of these hormones. Nature’s mood enhancers at work.

If you’re still working on your Self-Care Manifesto, here’s another proclamation suggestion: I believe in kindness, therefore I choose to smile at strangers.

Related articles:
What Makes You Happy?
There’s Magic in Your Smile
9 Surprising Reasons You Should Smile More

Previous Day’s Challenge: Dance with Abandon   Next Day’s Challenge: Savor Every Bite
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