This tool is so powerful it can lift the broken hearted, put someone at ease, make someone feel welcome, it can even show someone you care. A tool that is always at our disposal, that many of us used when we were younger, but as adults seldom incorporate in our daily lives.
That awesome tool is your smile!
Think back to when you were a child. How everything was new, delightful, fresh. Remember how much you smiled and laughed? Life was joy. Just existing was pure wonderment! But as most of us have grown, or in childhood, we learned that the world was not a safe place. We learned that we were vulnerable, we could be hurt. Most of us learned that a smile could be interpreted by a predator or someone in power in a way that we did not intend. So as we grew, we learned to hide our smile. We learned not to make eye contact with strangers and share our powerful tool. We kept it hidden away. Maybe we took it out from time to time to share with those we love and trusted. Maybe we were hurt so bad in life that we learned to never use this powerful tool again.
When you smile, many amazing and healing things start to happen in your body and soul.
There are 43 wonderful muscles in the human face. When you smile you use between 17 to 26 of those muscles, releasing tension and stress. Endorphins or "Happy Hormones" are released improving your mood and energy level. Your heart center lifts releasing negative stale energy and bringing in healing loving energy. Your soul connects with the divine making you feel vibrant and loved.
So here is you HTG challenge for today. Do it at whatever level you are comfortable doing or speaks to you.
SMILING WITH YOURSELF
In a comfortable position, sit with you eyes closed. Take a few deep breaths relaxing you body. Now just smile! Hold it for a moment and release. Try it again, smile, hold, release. What do you notice? Can you feel a tingling, stretch, warmth in your face muscles? How does your heart center feel? Are there any emotions that are coming up? Continue with this practice for as long as feels right. You may be able to only do it once, that's okay. You did it! Give yourself an internal hug! Try this practice for a week and see if you notice any changes.
SMILING AT YOURSELF IN THE MIRROR
I admit this one is goofy and you will probably crack yourself up doing it. Stand in front of a mirror and smile as big as you can! Hold it for a few moments, release. Try it again. What happens for you? Are you critical and judging yourself because of your smile? If so, try to let those feelings go. No one is watching so give yourself permission to let this powerful healing tool into your life today. Try it again. Try different smiles, big ones, small ones. Open mouth smiles, close mouth smiles. Experiment, enjoy.
SMILING AT A COMPLETE STRANGER
This exercise can be scary for many. I especially like to practice this one when I am at the grocery store. When you make eye contact with a stranger just smile! This may seem really scary or uncomfortable at first, but try it. If it is way to overwhelming to smile at a live breathing human, then just smile at a can of soup! The purpose of this exercise it to get used to smiling again in public. You can even smile when standing next to someone if looking at them is to much to tackle at this time. But give yourself credit! You are doing it!!
When I fist started using my smile again, it felt really fake. I thought people would know I was smiling a fake smile. But as time goes on using you smile becomes more automatic. Soon you will find you are using it again, and in doing so healing yourself and others around you! Give it a try and see what opens in your life.
Love and hugs, Cheryl
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