January 6, 2004

Smiling makes you happy.

An interesting theory that facial expressions affect blood-flow to the brain and are not just results of emotions. The assertion is that these blood-flows affect our emotions. So SMILE! :-)

Zajonc, R. B., Emotion and Facial Efference: A Theory Reclaimed, Scince, 1985, 288, 15-2

He also asserted that elation follows the smile, not the opposite. The blood flow changes caused by contracting the facial muscles in the smile alter cerebral blood flow and cause an emotional change. He extends this reasoning to account for all kinds of other bizarre facial habits associated with emotions -- wrinkled forheads, rubbing one's eyes, hand on forehead, pulling earlobes, licking lips, etc.

Via Jonas

By Joichi Ito joi_nospam_@nospam_ito.com. [Joi Ito's Web]
10:35:22 AM      


LifeSense

Just before Xmas my mother went into hospital, slipped into a coma and died last week. After attending the funeral, and a very long drive home I have started to re-evaluate my lifestyle. Both my parents were smokers, my dad died of lung cancer at 86, and my mother just died at age 81. She was a chain smoker most of her life, and her life was negatively effected by this stuipid habit. 17 years ago both my wife and I quit smoking, but since then I have not really done much to live healthier.

I guess this category, LifeSense, is my attempt to make sense of what healthier living is, based upon some research on my part, that I will share with you in this category. Later on today I will share some of that research, but my basic assumption from the start, given the fact that I am about 60 lbs overweight, is to start to control what I eat. My fundamental assumptions on healtheir living for me are:

  • Exercise-burn more calories
  • Eat less-consume less calories

Beyond, that I will try to research other things that addess healthier living for not just the body, but the mind and the spirit.

Stay tuned, for more of LifeSense!


9:32:27 AM