Remember when you w
ere a little kid, were feeling a bit grumpy and someone would look at you and say “Don’t smile!” They would keep repeating it until you couldn’t help yourself. Try as you would, it was hard to resist. First the little grin would break through and finally a huge smile. Occasionally, a giggle or belly laughter would emerge. After that, life didn’t seem so bad and soon you would forget whatever it was that made you grumpy. Perhaps it is because when we smile, endorphins are released that help reduce stress. Doesn’t it seem logical that we should smile a little more often and lower our stress levels?
Everyone looks better with a smile on their face. It seems to light up our entire countenance. It makes you more approachable, more trustworthy when people see a genuine smile. We all have someone in our lives that is always smiling, always happy. People want to be around those kinds of people…unless of course, you are trying to be mad, sad or angry and they are ruining your mood!!! Practice being a person who is consistently smiling and you might find that you have a few more friends.
There is something about a person smiling at you that makes you want to smile back. Many pregnant women love the fact that wherever they go for months, total strangers smile at them. When you greet a person and they give you a huge smile in return, it can change your entire mood.
Proverbs 15:30 A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; (NIV)
For the next 21 days (the time it takes to create a habit!), practice smiling. The first week, smile when you are alone. When the phone rings and it is a good friend calling to say hello, smile! When you learn about good news, smile! When you hear a great song on the radio, smile! Leave pictures of smiley faces all around to remind yourself to practice smiling. Smile even when your day is falling apart or you are exhausted. Test the theory to see if it REALLY relieves stress. During the second week, smile at friends and family. Smile at co-workers who you normally avoid. Smile at your Mom when she gives you the same advice for the 316th time. By the third week, you will have practiced smiling so much that it should be easier to smile at strangers. At the bank, in the grocery store and at the gas station, purpose to find at least 1-2 people who you will look in the eye and smile as big as you can. It may be the only smile that person has seen all day. Bring joy to the heart of others as they wonder what they did to deserve a big smile from you. Most of the time, it will be as if you are looking in a mirror as they return your smile.
It isn’t always easy to smile. When we are tired, frustrated or emotional, sometimes the last thing we want to do is smile. If you spend the next 21 days practicing your smiling, hopefully, it will become second nature to you and smiling despite the circumstances, it will be easy. Others will be able say about you, “I have this friend who smiles all the time” and it will be an awesome testimony of Christianity.
Go ahead. Smile so much your face hurts!!!
Watch this video…it will help!
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