Are you a person who smiles easily? Or, are you someone who walks around with a serious expression or maybe even a frown?
What impact do you think your facial expression has on others?
Now take that a step further and ask yourself, “What impact do my facial expressions have on me?”
Check yourself right now. Are you smiling?
If so, great! Now, how do you feel?
If not, why not? And again, how do you feel?
I want you to try something for me. Stop right now. Get up and go stand in front of a mirror. Put a big, genuine smile on your face. Now smile at yourself in the mirror for 30 to 60 seconds. Make eye contact with yourself. Be happy and confident. After all, you do like yourself.
Yeah, yeah, people might think you’re weird. SO WHAT?
Now, I know an author isn’t supposed to tell people to stop reading their work. But this is important. Besides, I know you will come back and finish my article.
So, go now! Smile at yourself in the mirror for 30 to 60 seconds and then come back and tell me how you feel.
Deal?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Did I wait long enough?
Good. So, how do you feel now?
Great! I knew you’d feel better. Even if you felt good or great to start, it’s impossible to smile at yourself with a genuine, warm smile and not feel better.
Why is that?
It’s because your brain is hardwired to react positively to a smile. A smile is an open, friendly, accepting gesture. It sends a message of welcome and love. And that makes smiles infectious! I think you’ll agree with me, of all the diseases in this world I can’t think of one I’d rather have than chronic Smileyitis.
Now imagine what your smile will do for the people you interact with every day…
I know when I smile, which is all the time, I see many happy, friendly people smiling back at me. My smile feeds their smile and their smile feeds my smile. It’s a wonderful loop of positive reinforcement!
In fact, total strangers approach me all the time. They smile, I smile, and we have pleasant conversations. It’s wonderful.
But it wasn’t always that way. I used to walk around with a grim set to my mouth. I probably even frowned a lot and didn’t realize it. In effect I wore a huge, “Leave me alone!” sign. And you know what, even though that wasn’t what I thought I wanted, it worked.
People avoided me like the plague.
What I didn’t realize then was this: I also lowered the energy of the people I interacted with. In effect, because I chose to be miserable, I robbed them of their positive energy and lowered their vibrations.
That’s not what I wanted. But that’s reality. When you walk around with a dark cloud hanging over you, others see it. And they feel it. When you choose to be miserable, you impact those around you. Even if you try to keep it to yourself, they will sense it and it will affect them.
Is that what you want?
Or…do you want to lift the spirits of the people you meet every day?
With that in mind, ask yourself; “What is the cost of a smile?”
My answer is this: A smile costs nothing. It’s an investment in the beauty of life!
Roland
http://www.ImagineYourNewLife.com
P.S. Remember, anytime you need an emotional boost, just smile at yourself in the mirror for 30 to 60 seconds.
Copyright ©, 2009 Roland Byrd. All rights reserved.
Entrepreneur, success coach, father, student of personal development, and all around eclectic guy.
Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/motivational-articles/what-is-the-cost-of-a-smile-1321647.html