“A smile is such a little thing,
it does not cost a lot;
It’s free to beggars and to kings;
so why not smile a lot?”
Source Unknown
Pause for a moment and think back to the last time you smiled.
When was it? Today? Yesterday? Can’t remember?
Do you need a reason to smile? Do you ever smile for no reason at all?
You should smile as often as you can because when you smile, you automatically relax, and:
- Your mood perks up
- Your ability to deal with stress improves
- Your immunity to illness increases
- Your heart rate and blood pressure decreases
- Your breathing slows down and expands
- Your body releases “feel good” hormones such as serotonin and endorphins
- Your facial muscles get a good workout, and as a result, you look younger
If you smile more, you’ll probably live longer and you’ll definitely be happier.
No doubt, these are important benefits.
However, the impact of your smile on others is equally important.
What if you smile more at your co-workers in your office?
What if everyone else smiled more at you?
Wouldn’t the office instantly become a better work-place?
What if you greeted the waiter at your favorite restaurant with a smile and a pleasant greeting?
Isn’t it likely to improve his mood instantly and encourage him to smile right back at you?
What if you smiled at everyone all day?
Most importantly, would you consider smiling more at home – at your grandparents, your parents, your children, your spouse?
Would that improve the quality of your communication and connection with them?
You bet it would.
So why don’t we smile more often?
Why has smiling become a rarity, like clarity and charity?
Whatever the reason, we need to get back on the “Smile all you can” wagon.
The most effective way to do this, according to meditation teacher, Ajahn Brahm, is to smile at yourself first thing in the morning.
He advises his students to stand in front of the mirror and smile at themselves as soon as they awake.
At first, he says, this may not be so easy and you may have to stretch the corners of your mouth into a smile with your fingers!
However, if you persist, it will become easier.
If you can bear to smile at yourself first thing in the morning, you will soon find it easier to smile at everyone else.
The more you smile, the more natural it will become, until it become your nature to smile all the time.
And everywhere you go, everyone you meet will reflect your smile right back at you.
JRD Tata remarked in an interview that wherever he went around the world, whenever he smiled at anyone, they smiled right back at him. Always. No exceptions.
A smile is one investment that gave him instant returns.
Finally, a smile is the best way to make peace after an argument with anyone.
In the words of Mother Teresa, “Peace begins with a smile—smile five times a day at someone you don’t really want to smile at at all—do it for peace.”
Ten quotations about smiling:
“A smile is the best way to increase your face value.” Source Unknown
“A smile is a curve that sets everything right.” Phyllis Diller
“A smile is a frown turned upside down.” David Smart
“A laugh is a smile that bursts.” Mary H. Waldrip
“Joy is the feeling of grinning on the inside.” Melba Colgrove
“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” Dr. Seuss
“The robbed that smiles, steals something from the thief.” William Shakespeare
“Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been.” Mark Twain
“Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.” Mother Teresa
“Breathing in I calm my body, breathing out I smile.
Dwelling in the present moment, I know this is a wonderful moment.” Thich Naht Hanh
What happened the last time you smiled at someone?
Leave a comment and let us know.
I agree, you never know when a smile from a stranger can make a difference. I like smiling at people I don’t know, my kids think its a silly, but they have a long way to go to learn the small stuff! Loved your blog!
Thanks for your encouragement, Anita.
I often smile at strangers and most smile back. Sometimes, they are confused, sometimes bemused, but they almost always smile back.
“Life is a great big canvas; throw all the paint on it you can.” Danny Kaye
Rohi recently posted…The Best Thing You Can Do With Your Lips
Happy Monday, Rohi!!
What a great headline – You got *my* eyeballs right over here from Carol Tice’s place 🙂
The coolest thing about *smiles* is that they even come through over the phone and in your writing, too! (Grumpy-grouchies and mad-ons do, too, BTW – Is that *really* the way ya want to start a conversation?)
Bright Blessings to you!
Karen J recently posted…“Make Good Art!” – Neil Gaiman
Thanks, Karen, that’s a great point. You are absolutely right – smiles come through on the phone and in writing. I guess it’s the smile behind the smile, that counts.
Btw, I got the idea for this title from a message on a T-shirt: “Smile. It’s the second-best thing you can do with your lips.” 🙂
Rohi recently posted…The Best Thing You Can Do With Your Lips
Hah!Hah!Hah! I like it – is that one in your new Kindle book?
~~~
May I ask where-abouts you write from? I’m in the middle of the USA (near Chicago), and it’s 8pm yesterday, here (still Monday). Your reply shows nearly 7am on Tuesday …
Karen J recently posted…On Cigarettes… mine in particular 🙂
I’m writing from India. It’s 7.50 am here.
I didn’t put this quote in my book – missed it.
Would you like a free review copy of my book?
My next one is: “Meditation? It’s Not What You Think.”
Rohi recently posted…The Best Thing You Can Do With Your Lips
I’d be delighted ~ Thank you!
Ahh! “Meditation” – a topic with a lot of mis-conceptions hanging on it, especially in the West, where it’s often still an exotic idea.
Are you “researching” that or “writing what you already know”? If you want more thoughts, a friend of mine (Shanna Mann) wrote a very helpful post (and an e-book) last year… I can do a link if you’d like, or not, if you’d prefer…
Karen J recently posted…On Cigarettes… mine in particular 🙂
Hi Karen, thanks a lot. I’ve been practicing Vipassana meditation since 1991 but I’m also looking for more information. So please send the links.
How should i send the e-book to you?
Btw, I subscribed to your blog but didn’t see a way to send the e-book to you. Are you on FB?
Rohi recently posted…The Best Thing You Can Do With Your Lips
Rohi ~ Here’s Shanna’s post about her “Crash Course on Meditation”: http://shannamann.com/secret/meditation#.UfdaPn9t4aQ .
Karen J recently posted…On Cigarettes… mine in particular 🙂
Clearly, I need to add a “Get in touch” widget! (Not tonight, though – it’s now 1:30am!) and subscribe here!
I don’t do Facebook, though; my email is k m johannessen @ yahoo.com (with no spaces).
Karen J recently posted…On Cigarettes… mine in particular 🙂
Same here, Karen. Plan to do it soon.
Rohi recently posted…The Best Thing You Can Do With Your Lips
Thanks for this, Rohi. I’m now grinning at the computer screen!
Sally Jenkins recently posted…Write a Review and Win a Book Journal
Great article Rohi.
You are so right, smile doesn’t cost you anything but can lighten up someone’s day and the best thing is you will get one back.
Thanks for introducing me to your column & I am sure I’ll get so much value from this.
Damayanthi
Damayanthi recently posted…How to Overcome Procrastination?
Thanks, Damayanthi,
I see that smiling comes naturally to you! 🙂
I can’t believe it’s four months since I last posted here.
Tchah!
Rohi recently posted…The Best Thing You Can Do With Your Lips
Hi Rohi,
Smile is a contagious disease! Even if you smile at someone who doesn’t want to smile back, your smile softens his heart and at least inside his mind, he gets your smiling face many times after having seen you smile.
Raspal Seni recently posted…6 Common Blog Header Mistakes You Should Avoid
Absolutely right, Raspal!
Rohi recently posted…The Best Thing You Can Do With Your Lips
Rohith… so very well written… Soo true as well! I must say that I can relate myself to this 🙂