Whatever profession you are in, your smile adds value and attracts people towards you. People will be more inclined to associate, trust and follow smiling people. Your smile not only influences how people feel about you, but it is also a great way to express your love, appreciation and respect to those who are important to you.
You can convey a powerful message with a smile. And, you don’t need to say a single word to get the message across. A smile can have a cumulative positive effect if you give it generously and often. Smile plays very active role in convalescing patients suffering from any illness.
Which countries’ citizens smile the most? As per national geographic.com Denmark, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Canada, Netherland, New Zealand, Australia, Sweden are the top 10 happiest countries of the world. I really don’t know whether they are just happier or smiling too! People may believe smiling people as happier lot and not vice versa! If we consciously recall, how many times and how often we actively smile I am sure most of us will be in for a rude shock. There are lot many of us who smile the least.
How to smile and how to get reminded to smile often? Answer to this is very simple and the solution is easy to follow. Just look at infants in your surroundings or recall your past experiences with toddlers. Just observe the infants’ great attitude of gratitude. They never show grudge against anybody and always accept everybody with ‘egoless let go attitude’. They keep on thanking others through their lovable smile and body language. Just be like those babies with mindfulness. In other words be in the present and be always with positive mind. While smiling, smile whole heartedly with glee and by showing your teeth. Forget about color, size and alignment -as long as you keep your teeth clean it is always beautiful to show them while smiling!
Start your day by practicing your smile. Stand in front of the mirror and look at yourself while you smile. Remind yourself that you’re going to try to smile more often today, and keep practicing it for about 5 minutes. It will start you out on the right foot so you’re ready to smile more.
Put notes or a smiley-face visual around you in places you will see that remind you to smile (On your phone, in your car, computer, mirror at home etc).Place notes and reminders of this skill throughout your ‘world’ to remind you to smile more. Send yourself an email message, or make a note on your calendar. Make sure that you have plenty of reminders to smile more often. Eventually, it will become the healthiest habit of yours.
Say ‘money’ as you smile. It’s way better than saying ‘cheese’! When you say ‘money’, your natural smile opens up wide and the rest of your face relaxes. It’s actually an old trick that Hollywood stars use for photographs.
According to my personal experience, I can rate this beautiful island nation on the Indian subcontinent as the one blessed with more number of smiling people. Yes, I’m referring to Sri Lanka, where countless broad, heartfelt, wholesome, sweet smiles are guaranteed from the time you land at the airport and till you return. And this phenomenon is not confined to Colombo alone but throughout the country. Hats off to SS! (Smiling Sri Lankans).
