Gary W Hand sent a message to the members of Dare to be AMAZING!!
Have you ever deliberately smiled, in order to create happiness? Maybe things weren't going well, but you took a second to ask yourself, "What can I be happy about right now? What can I be grateful for?"
We smile because we're happy. However, it is also possible to become happy by smiling.
Research shows that curling the corners of our mouth in a "mock smile" creates a positive biological response in the body. Yes, we can actually change the way we feel by smiling.
Anthony Robbins, the well-known motivational author and speaker, often talks about changing the way we feel by changing the way we move. If we're feeling depressed, we can change our mood by smiling, holding our head up and shoulders back, and walking as if we're confident and taking charge of the situation.
Smiling is also a good brain exercise. It rushes oxygen to your brain. Plus, you're using facial muscles and stimulating feel-good endorphins. Perhaps you´re using muscles that you haven't used in a while. We tend to write with one predominant hand, and use that side of the brain predominantly. As a result, the other side of the brain isn't used as much. That's why smiling and cross-lateral movements are so good for us. It activates both sides of the brain.
Have you ever taken a Step class at the gym? The workout involves stepping on the left and right sides of a box. It's amazing how difficult it is sometimes, to reverse the routine and do it using the left leg (instead of the right). Of course, this type of cross-lateral movement is good for the brain because it activates parts of the brain that are rarely used. It promotes whole-brain functioning.
Whatever you´re doing right now, take a moment to smile. When you smile, your facial expression changes. Something inside changes too. You slowly let go of anger, hostility,tension, and stress. As a result, you feel more relaxed.
Of course, it takes a little practice.... but why not try it? Come on, you can do it! Smile, even if things aren't going well. Allow that relaxed, easy-going state-of-mind to permeate your being.
Have a great day, and make tomorrow even better.
