Are You Ready To S.M.I.L.E.? Here’s How…

Have you ever been body painted?

I haven’t. But I went to this interesting art show recently where people’s bodies were painted with all types of intricate designs.

And look what I got (to the right) on my arm!

OK, so I know it’s not super intricate or anything, but it made me happy.

And that’s what I want to talk to you about today – Happiness.

And how, as radio commentator, Dennis Prager, says, “Happiness is a moral obligation.”

What?! You say. I thought I had a moral obligation to always tell the truth. Or to always do the right thing. You’re telling me I also have a moral obligation to be happy?

Yes, I am. Because, how you feel (and how you subsequently act) directly impacts how others feel.

Are you ready to S.M.I.L.E.? Here’s how…

It’s easy to get bogged down by life’s challenges, no matter how miniscule or monumental they are. 

But, and I’ve got to quote Dennis here again, because I simply couldn’t say it any better…

No matter how unhappy or sad you may feel at any given moment, it is a decision you make of how to act or whether or not to present a happy countenance to others.

Need help making that decision? No worries! I’m going to teach you how to S.M.I.L.E. today…for when you need a little help feeling happy – or at least acting it!

Ready? Give me an…

‘Shake’ your body. Shake your soul. Shake and bake. Just get moving and shake something. You know what they say about those endorphins – they will inevitably make you smile. (Psst…by the way, if you really don’t want to shake something, the ‘S’ can also stand for ‘Smile’!)

 

‘Match’ every sadness (or annoyance) with a happiness. Every time something makes you feel sad, remember something that makes you happy and focus on that. (And if that fails, listen to happy music…that’s an ‘M’ that makes me happy any time!)

 

‘Ignore’ those negative feelings. When you walk out that front door, put your actor’s hat on, if you have to, and put a smile on your face, joy in your step and a little salsa in your soul. In other words, act happy even if you don’t feel it. After all, when you act happy, you often start to feel happy! (<– Tweet this!)

 

‘Laugh’! At anything! Laughter really is the best medicine. Really, it’s impossible to be unhappy when you laugh! I think the world needs to laugh more. As one of my favorite t-shirts says, “When in doubt, laugh.”

 

‘Expand’ your world. I’m all for affinity, but it’s so incredibly enriching when we befriend people who are different from us, whether that’s in interests, ethnicity or race. Diversity enriches the soul, which makes you smile, which makes you happy.

 

So, are you ready to S.M.I.L.E.? If the above exercise feels too overwhelming at first, start simply with a smile, and then take each letter at a time.

Because we all have a moral obligation to be happy.

It really is the right thing to do.

To being happy (or, at the least, acting like it),

 

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