interval smiling
Updated: May 11, 2022
"Just stop everything for one moment, and smile. At nothing. Just because it feels good." - Neale Donald Walsch
Smiling feels good. It warms our hearts. Lifts our mood. Breaks the entrancement of dark, heavy, & serious thoughts. It can feel like clouds parting, like ice melting.
We usually wait for something to make us smile. Why not smile for its own sake?
Next time you're feeling down or swamped, try this technique, I've really enjoyed it.
Smile, naturally & comfortably. No need to force it. Even the faintest smile counts. You can start faint & invite your smile to slowly broaden.
If possible, smile with the heart. Feel the heart space as you smile. See if you notice the heart's energy rising or warming with the smile.
Keep smiling for up to 10 seconds. No more.
Stop.
No smiling for at least 10 seconds.
Then smile again if you want to.
Repeat as often as you want.
Use the intervals to prevent the smile from becoming strained or compulsive. Make each smile its own fresh choice. This will gradually cultivate a positive, friendly intention within you.
The more you practice, the more natural & effortless the technique becomes. You may even find yourself smiling for no reason at all. Jackpot!