I can remember when my hubby died, I did not smile no matter what…and that continued for a very long time. Months even. But since then, I’ve learned you need to smile, it changes everything.
I also realized then, when you go to the shop, people don’t know what you’re going through, they just think you’re rude. Which I am far from, believe me.
Usually, it shows on your face when we are worried about something. Often, we think we are look and act normal, but stress and worry usually shows itself in some way. Smiling is often the last thing we feel like doing, especially when times are dark and we’re hurting on the inside.
However, when we learn to smile in spite of our problems, we open a door to a new kind of energy that can sometimes bring relief from the pain we are carrying.
I heard that someone once said, “Smiling is a social obligation.” How many times has your day been brightened by the smile from a total stranger? In that instance, when you instinctively smile back at them you find yourself feeling a little optimistic, your day becomes just for a fraction of a second, not such a bad place to be after all.
Why a Smile changes everything
Your body releases endorphins
There is a reason why we feel better when we smile and no doubt it’s a reason we love to laugh. When we smile, our brain releases a hormone that makes us feel good “endorphins.” This immediately lifts our spirit and makes us feel more optimistic. Smiling soon becomes contagious, and as we smile at people, so more people smile back at us, which encourages us to keep smiling.
How to smile when you don’t feel like it
Mix with people when you don’t feel like it
Lots of people when they feel stressed choose to stay at home because they say, “they don’t feel like mixing with other people right now.” This may be the worst thing anyone who is feeling down can do to make themselves feel better. Instead, go out with family and friends and don’t isolate yourself. You will feel your mood lifting and you will start to feel some optimism again.
Read or watch something funny
When you are not with your friends, find a funny book to read or watch something funny on television. Laughter produces the same feel good chemical responses in your brain. We do not need to feel pessimism or depression.
Create uplifting thoughts
With a little bit of help from the “pharmacy” in our brain, we can learn to practice optimism, regardless of our situation. Counter negative feelings by focusing on things that will create uplifting thoughts rather than negative ones.
Optimism rubs off
Surrounding yourself with happy people and fun situations will help you to think positively about your situations as their own optimism rubs off on you and you find yourself laughing and smiling with them. Over time, you will be in a much better position to make life decisions, or seek resolutions to the things that are creating stress in your life.
Are you not smiling because of lack of confidence?
Sometimes what holds us back from smiling is the fact that we’re either shy or we just don’t have enough confidence to step into a room and smile. Or just smile at someone we don’t know for that matter.
Why don’t we have that confidence? There are so many factors playing a role and it is different for each and every person. If you would like to know why YOU specifically are not confident, you can take my FREE 4 Part eCourse on Building A More Confident You. Click here to learn more.
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