“Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.” Thich Nhat Hanh
A smile saved my sanity eight years ago when I used to go for early morning walks to get my then baby to sleep. Sleep deprived and blurry eyed, I will never forget a lady I used to pass each time. She would always offer the biggest smile that would give me that vital boost, changing the outlook of my morning.
One of the greatest gifts you can give in a day is connection, and even just a smile can make all the difference.
What a smile does for you:
– It lifts your energy
– It helps change your internal state and perspective
– It makes you feel good
In fact, an article by Tara Kraft Feil and Sarah Pressman of the University of Kansas titled, “Grin and Bear It: The Influence of Manipulated Facial Expressions on the Stress Response,” demonstrated through their study that smiling during periods of tension and fear actually reduce the intensity of the body’s stress response, regardless of whether a person actually feels happy.
What a smile does for others:
– It creates connection
– It can break down barriers
– It makes them feel good
Be aware of smile opportunities during your day – spend a fraction longer when you see someone and just simply smile.
You could even take it one step further and bring in more laughter in your day. During those baby years, the other thing that saved me was Peppa Pig – every episode ends with them falling down laughing, literally. Bring in some good giggle moments in your day and enjoy the endorphin effect.