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Smile, It's Not So Bad

The Power of a Smile

By Vanessa Cherron RiserPublished 6 years ago 3 min read
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Photo by Clem Onojeghuo on Unsplash

When I look around, something I almost constantly see is straight faces often turned down and looking at a phone. While being engaged in social media and our virtual world isn't horrible, it does seem to cause a disconnect to the world around us. It is also keeping our faces turned down in a more stern and depressed looking disposition.

In my experience, this constant disconnect has everyone feeling more depressed and unmotivated about life. There has to be a way to change our attitudes to a more connected and positive outlook.

What does all of this talk about stern faces looking at phones lead us to? Well, it leads us to something I have found motivating in my life for nearly 15 years. Smiling.

It all started when I was 19 years. My apartment was near a gas station, and I had walked down to it so I could get something from inside the store. When I walked out of a gas station, something strange happened to me. Now I can't tell you much about that day. I certainly don't remember why my mood was a little fowl, or even if it was. I could have just been deep in thought causing me to frown. What I do remember was when I started walking back to my apartment, an older woman called out from her car, "Smile honey. It can't be that bad." Just hearing those words sent a smile not just to my lips, but through my entire body.

What I learned from what was nothing more than an innocent exchange was just how powerful a smile could be. Not only can it change your entire day, but it can also change the days of the people around you. Have you ever seen someone smiling for no apparent reason and it made you smile too, if even for a moment? Well doesn't it stand to reason your smile can do that for others?

Smiles are motivating, contagious, and mood lifting. I have had days where putting that smile on was difficult and felt impossible. There were other days where I simply fought the desire to be happy. It is a vicious cycle which can lead to deeper and more intense depression.

As crazy as it seems, smiling, even when you don't want to, can completely change your day. Now I'm not talking about those sarcastic, "Can my life get any worse?" smiles. Those certainly do nothing but exacerbate an already negative and destructive situation. I'm talking about finding something deep inside that reminds you why you should be happy and using it to fuel a positive change in your day. It has to come from deep inside. It comes from a place where all of our happy thoughts live. Smiles need to have Peter Pan moments. Fly.

Once you find that seed of happiness inside, you can feed it, nurture it, until it grows like a tree inside of you. Let it bloom out of you and create the kind of smile which is a real, beautiful smile. Once you can feel it, it will become contagious to all those around you. Let your smile be what transforms someones lousy day into a fantastic one.

Sure a fake smile can help. It can change your day slowly. Many people will claim the way to be successful is to fake it until you make it. However, there is a difference in putting on a smile to force a change in your mood and putting on a smile in sarcastic frustration. Be mindful of the difference.

So next time you feel your face turning down into a frown, perk up and remember a smile can change everything.

As always, if your heart leads you, please feel free to leave a gift. Also, check out my other articles on mental health.

It's All in Your Head

When Anxiety Won't Go Away

When Depression Feels Like Rage

The Mask That Hides Us

Leave Well Enough Alone

happiness
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About the Creator

Vanessa Cherron Riser

Vanessa is a wife and mother who loves games, books, movies and more. In 2015 she made a commitment to health and fitness which she wishes to share with others.

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