"Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy." ~Thich Nhat Hanh
Were you aware that smiling is good for you? According to Dr. Riggio's article in Psychology Today , smiling has a positive affect on your brain and your body.
"The act of smiling activates neural messaging that benefits your health and happiness.... releasing
neuropeptides that work toward fighting off stress....The feel good neurotransmitters dopamine,
endorphins and serotonin are all released when a smile flashes across your face as well......it can lower
your heart rate and blood pressure.....endorphins also act as a natural pain reliever."
If all we have to do is smile for mind and body health benefits, why isn't everyone walking around with a smile on their face? By administering the 3-A's, Acknowledge, Assess, Assist , I have come up with a few answers.
1. Until reading this article, you have not been aware of the health benefits of smiling. Acknowledging could lead you to even fake smiling and smiling more often each day.
2. By assessing the negative circumstances that you are living with, you find it hard to smile....your perception is that there is nothing to smile about, making it difficult to even fake a smile.
3. You may be resisting assisting yourself. If you are living in victim mode where suffering is an everyday mantra and complaining is an everyday activity, what would you do if you had nothing to complain about and you were accepting the circumstances? In other words, you have become your own worst enemy in keeping yourself down. It is a behavior pattern and mindset that you are stuck in. The good news is you have the power to assist yourself and/or seek out assistance to get out of this behavior pattern. Remember obtaining assistance when needed is a strength not a weakness.... It can start with a fake smile.
The key is to acknowledge, assess and assist, get out of the shadow of your smile that keeps you down .....and just smile for a brighter tomorrow to come.....I think Nat King Cole says it best in a song, just listen