If you have listened to me long enough you have heard me say, “You are never wrong about how you feel.”
You have also heard me say, “Feelings are temporary.”
These seem to be contradictory but they actually aren’t. Feelings are useful to check in to what we are experiencing. Then, if we want to stay there, we can choose to, but if it is a feeling we are ready to move on from we can do something about that.
You can change your feelings and one of the quickest ways I know how is to smile.
Smiling releases endorphins, which help to relieve stress. Endorphins boost your mood.
See where I am going? With a mood change, you are changing your feelings.
Hormones can combat depression which will also boost your immune system.
Yes, smiling can actually help prevent illness, both physical and mental.
Smiling is also contagious. Smiling authentically around others can change the mood of the room and help to elevate others. Our brains see someone smiling and often we mimic what we see and so we start smiling.
Smiling can also make you appear more attractive, trustworthy, and approachable.
These are all qualities that open up opportunities.
It might feel weird at first, but with practice it will become more natural.