Still to this day one of the most popular articles I have ever written is ”Smile into your organs“. It’s all about holding a smile on your face, feeling the feelings of the smile (for me its joy and a lightness) and then with a little help from your breath send that smiling energy into each of your organs. One smiling breath at a time.
Smile into your liver to dissolve anger, smile into your kidneys to help dissolve fear or smile into your lungs to help dissolve sadness. Trust me it works, even if some organs resist at first (and believe me – they do resist at times) eventually they will soften enough to open up and receive the smiling energy.
I’m all for smiling as a therapy. I’m all for smiling as an awesome way to flow through life.
So I was thrilled to watch and read about the latest scientific studies on smiling from Ron Gutman at Ted TV. He shares how smiling is directly linked to our longevity and overall health and well-being. You’ve got to love that.
And, as 2012 is the year where I’m keen to live life more lightly, I reckon smiling is an easy, no-brainer way to bring more lightness into our daily life. What do you think?
Wake up and smile:
How about smiling with your lips, cheeks, eyes and whole face first thing in the morning and let it soak into your body. Remember your first waking thoughts/rituals will either bring you closer or take you further away from the kind of day you’d like to have.
So, in an attempt to add more smiling faces to our planet I’m sharing Ron Gutman scientific research and insights on smiling. You can also click here to watch his 8 minute talk on Ted TV
Amazing facts about smiling:
By Ron Gutman
1: Smile is stimulating to the brain as eating up to 2,000 bars of chocolate
2: Smiles aren’t just a response to feeling good, they can actually make you feel good.
3: Smiles can predict success in marriage.
4: Frequent smilers report greater well-being throughout life
5: Smiles not only makes you look more friendly, it actually makes you look more competent
6: Smiles can help you live longer
7: Smiles hold the same meanings in cultures around the world, even for cannibals 
8: Smiling can help connect with others quickly
9: Smiling is evolutionary contagious
Smiling activates the emotional processing centers of our brains and produces real, tangible pleasure that we can experience and enjoy. When we smile we don’t only feel good, but we also look good to others around us. We’re perceived to be more friendly, sociable, trustworthy, and even more competent. When others see us smiling, they see us in a better light, and they instinctively and instantaneously mimic our smiles. This smile activates the emotional processing centers of their brains and makes them feel better. It also strengthens our connection to them and improves our social interactions.
Photo by Theen
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What I’m doing at the moment:
After travelling in America for the past few weeks I’m currently following Nadia’s Ayurvedic eating advice – Why? Because I know light warm food calms me down, settle my nervous system and relaxes my being after so much travel. Plus I’m secretly addicted to my afternoon tea of chai tea and date and coconut balls. Love you Nadia xx
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Unwind Retreats, Ubud, Bali, 2012:
My unwind retreats are now offered 3 times a year in Bali – March, July or September. It’s all about the practice of intentional rest for a calmer, healthier and happier you.
I’d absolutely love it if you could join me for lots of very gentle, tranquil restorative, yoga nidra meditation, mindful breathing and daily specialized Ayurvedic and Balinese massages. No yoga experience needed just an intention to let go, unwind and experience profoundly deep relaxation.
Please click here for all the relaxing details.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for providing all the facts behind the feelings I’ve had about smiling. Whenever I’m feeling very not-smiley, I consciously smile with my whole face and body and hold it for at least 30 seconds. While I’m doing that, I think of all the wonderful things I’m grateful for. It totally transforms my day.
My nickname as a kid was Smiley…so I guess I was off to a good start. Thanks so much for the wonderful post. I’ll just tuck this away for those less-than-smiley days to remind myself how good they are for us!
I enjoy this post and I believe that smiles are contagious, they also lighten the mood. Ever since I got my braces off last year and was so grateful to genuinely smile again, in hopes that it brightens other people’s days. I like the facts about smiling too!
Thank you for the post…it brought a smile to my face! Smiling is definitely good for us. I can feel a total change in my energy levels just by smiling