Can your smile predict your success?

by | Oct 15, 2015 | Emotional Intelligence, Relationships (Self and Others), Time Management

Can your smile predict your success?

Since we have spent the past six weeks exploring the ‘EASIER’ way to be happy, I thought you’d enjoy learning more about Dr Dacher Keltner’s (University of California) very interesting research findings… He has discovered that finding reasons to be happy now can actually benefit your future. Dr Keltner claims he can predict a person’s future by judging the strength of their smile. Researchers examined yearbook photos of 111 female students taken between 1958 and 1960. Subsequent test revealed that the women who expressed more positive emotion in those photos became more mentally focused, had more successful marriages and enjoyed a greater sense of well-being. It’s a no brainer then, isn’t it? Let’s take Key Steps this week to…

Smile! Smile! Smile!

  1. Express positive emotion. “While positive emotion tends to broaden thought, negative emotion tends to narrow it and hold back development. The findings of Dr Keltner and his colleagues, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, are among the first to show their differences in the extent to which people express emotion may be stable throughout their lives and dictate personal and social success.” So take responsibility for your happiness right now. Don’t play the BLAME game. Stop expecting others to make you happy and start doing it for yourself. 
  2. Have more fun! Fun and happiness is not found in the BIG things. And it is definitely not an external process. Happiness is a choice and it is usually found in the little things. Fun happens in everyday moments. Appreciate them. Deeply internalise how grateful you are for the happiness in your life today… right now. Appreciate, laugh with and have fun times with your loved ones. Let them know how much you love them. Give them a reason to smile and it’ll make you smile too. You owe it to yourself to be happy and to

“be the difference that makes the difference

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Namaste,

 

NOTE: The information in my blog may be freely shared and re-used in any online or offline publication, provided it is accompanied by the following credit line: This was written by Dr Sharon King Gabrielides, and originally appeared in her free bi-weekly  ‘Key Steps Food for Thought Blog’ available on the Key Steps website.

Dr Sharon King Gabrielides, EQ Expert, Founder and CEO

Sharon is a dynamic facilitator, speaker and executive coach with over 25 years’ experience in leadership development and organisational transformation. Her PhD thesis contributed a framework for holistic and sustainable leadership development that was published by Rutgers University in the USA. She is faculty of numerous business schools and highly sought-after by leading corporates because she works hand-in-hand with them to create sustainable results and long-term success. In 2020, Sharon was inducted into the Educators Hall of Fame, which is a lifetime achievement award, recognising excellence and her contribution to the field.

Sharon is one of only three women in South Africa to hold the title of Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) – the Oscar of the speaking industry. She is also a COMENSA Master Practitioner (CMP), a qualified Modern Classroom Certified Trainer (MCCT™) and an accredited Global Virtual Speaker. Sharon is also a registered Education, Training and Development Practitioner (ETDP), holds an Honours degree in Psychology and practices as an NLP master practitioner.

Most important to Sharon is that she has become known for her genuinely caring manner, practical and transformational approach, and for providing valuable tools and that allow people to take Key Steps to really… ‘be the difference that makes the difference.’