The gift of a simple smile is so often overlooked as a wonderful way to influence one’s own mood, change perspective or bring about a sense of ease and warmth. Not to mention it’s various heath benefits such as triggering the release of feel good chemicals, reducing stress and having a ripple effect on others.
In no way am I advocating just slapping on a smile to avoid feeling our emotions, or in pretending we are happy, when we most certainly are not. All of our emotions have a place and a valuable function, that must be honoured, felt and processed.
My point though, is that the positive effect of a genuine, warm and kind smile to a passing stranger on the street, or when greeting a colleague at the office, may be an act of kindness, that has the potential of changing that person’s day. And it literally costs you nothing, and offers something infinitely more valuable. The chance to create positive change in the world. I mean let’s face it, most people would rather approach a cashier at the local grocery store, who offers a gesture of goodwill and positive energy, than a surely face and a hissing demeanour. I mean, know body wants to be on the other end of a crabby attitude.
We can all agree though, that bad days are a part of life, and having one, or many, really sucks balls. Just maybe your smile pisses someone off, because they feel like crap, but on the flip side, maybe, just maybe, your smile opens a small place in their heart, and the old mirror neurons kick in, and they find themselves smiling too. And when their smile registers in their brain, and they begin to feel that incy, wincy, tiny bit better, wow, what a powerful gift your smile was to them in that moment!
Obviously the happiness of others is not our responsibility. That is most definitely an inside job. Although, moving through the world with an air of inner peace, grace, positivity and a joyful attitude toward ourselves and others, on the whole, does go a long way toward fostering peace and harmony in our often turbulent and busy lives.
You never really know what someone is facing in private, and it can certainly be a rough road at times. A kind smile may be the only positive encounter an individual has in their day. No words, no expectation, no reason, just a warm smile from one heart to another, just because it’s as easy as that. If they don’t choose to receive it, they won’t, but what did you loose in offering it, absolutely nothing. If anything, you gained a warmth in your own heart and received a spurt of endorphin to ease the pain in your gammy hip.
I invite you to consider making a conscious decision to connect with others in a way that promotes wellbeing, mutual respect and heart cantered consideration for our fellow travellers, as we all navigate our way through the day. Living with authentic heart openness, allows us as humans, to experience deeper connections and transmit unconditional love, joy and compassion into the world and our interactions with others.
A smile is a simple and powerful tool for spreading peace and joy, and what a truly valuable and worthwhile practice to embody, share and hold onto.