Laugh or Frown: it is a choice
Your face tells a story. Every wrinkle, every crease.
A life of frowns or a life of laughter.
It is surprising how many things can make us frown. It is even more surprising how long the frown can remain. Often without our realising it.
Frowning is instinctive. A reaction to pain, frustration, or sadness. It signals distress. It tells the world you are struggling.
When you frown, your brain responds. It triggers the amygdala, the fear center. Cortisol levels rise. Your body goes into stress mode.
Heart rate increases. Blood vessels constrict. Over time, this wears you down.
Chronic stress leads to disease.
Your facial muscles react too. The muscles in your forehead contract, pulling your eyebrows together. Your eyes tighten, making your eyes look smaller.
Muscles around your mouth turn downward, pulling the corners of your mouth down.
This creates tension. Holding a frown for too long makes your face tired.
Over time, it deepens wrinkles and lines.
Frowning also affects perception. Mirror neurons in the brain copy what they see. When you frown, others feel it. Their bodies react. A room full of frowns is a heavy place.
Laughter does the opposite. It releases endorphins. The brain’s natural painkillers. It lowers cortisol. It relaxes muscles. Blood pressure drops. Your heart thanks you.
Your face also responds.
Muscles around your mouth lift, making your smile. Your eyes crinkle, even if showing off the laughter lines.
A genuine laugh engages over 15 facial muscles. Instead of tension, there is release. Instead of strain, there is ease.
Laughter also connects people. It builds trust. It breaks barriers. Social bonding increases oxytocin, the love hormone. A laugh shared is a bond strengthened.
Both frowning and laughing are habits. You train your face like you train your mind. One creates stress. The other releases it. One isolates. The other brings people closer.
Life is unpredictable. But your reaction is a choice.
Laugh more. It is medicine, free and abundant.
Reach out to me on twitter @rbawri Instagram @riteshbawriofficial and YouTube at www.youtube.com/breatheagain
