A Purposeful Smile

A Purposeful smile: 

there are many benefits to a purposeful smile, not forced, but brought to the lips with an intent to heal both mind and body while nourishing the soul. Not only that, but offering a smile to others as a practice, a spiritual gift, could actually change the world. One of my yoga instructors would often to allude to the healing power of a smile, reminding us to gently curve our lips through the completion of the pose, a reminder to relax and place the emphasis less on effort and more on the grace of easy motion. And noted Zen teacher Thich Nhat Hahn based a series of mindfulness meditations on smiling, knowing how powerful this action truly is. 

in troubling times, maybe the best we could do for ourselves and others...

is simply smile. 

a purposeful smile doesn't mean that's it's not genuine, we bring it to our lips with a sincerity to feel better, only wishing ourselves and others an opportunity to heal. This is no small gift as our intent is rewarded with the release of serotonin and other natural mood altering hormones, almost instantly relieving stress and lowering our blood pressure. As well, our immune function improves with the relief of stress, we're inducing a deep healing ritual that begins in the immediacy of our smile.  

spiritually, a genuine smile is a gesture of love, as St.Teresa of Calcutta wrote "peace begins with a smile" and this is what we offer each other through this act of purposeful smiling. Again, this isn't a practice that requires any effort, our smiling is sincere a sincere gesture, a silent namaste given to a stranger, spontaneous in its kindness. It's considered a practice only because the stress of everyday life so often leaves us spiraling downward, with everything we hope for seeming so distant from where we find ourselves right now. A smile is what we can do in the present moment, an instant change in any situation that lights us from within, with even the slightest healing being continuous in its blessing. This is by no means an answer to our problem, it's only a small but sincere gesture. 

yet it's the simplest thing we can do right now. 

powerful.

and purposeful in its intent to heal. 

~

Peace, Eric.