A simple smile could change and brighten someone’s mood for the entire day and in return bring joy and happiness into your own day.
Smiling is an expression from the face and it is a sign of peace and happiness from the heart. We are not taught how to smile but everyone has the ability to smile as it is a gift God has given to every human being on this planet. We are all born to smile. Unfortunately as adults, many of us forget to use this wonderful gift as we are consumed with the ups and downs of life and sometimes we may wonder what we have to smile about.
We feel happy when we smile, as smiling triggers the muscles in your face and your brain to release the chemicals endorphins, which are responsible for making us feel happy. So if you feel low in mood a smile can actually rise your vibrations making you feel a little happier. Life can be hectic and stressful as many of us rush around juggling work and family and coping with other difficult challenging situations that creep up on us. A simple smile can reduce the stress hormones in our blood stream, helping the body to relax, feel calm and at peace. Obviously it’s hard to smile when dealing with all these challenges, and sad things happening in our lives, but if we could just stop take a breath and think of a happy memory, or do something that would make us smile, it would lift our spirits, if only for a short moment.
It does not have to cost anything, as a walk in the fresh air or reading a funny story or watching a comedy or chatting to someone close to us,, can all make us smile, which will reduce and help relieve some of the stress, anxiety or sadness that we are going through. Smiling more often, will help to heal our sadness or give us clarity, strength and courage to solve or cope with the problems that we face. It is often said that smiling and laughter is one of the best medicines.
Not only does smiling elevate how you feel but it can also make a significant difference to our appearance as it makes us look more youthful, beautiful and attractive. A happy smiling face will attract more attention than a miserable frowning face.
Smiling is the key to open the lock of everyone’s heart, so when the heart is open it is much easier for us to communicate or work with people, no matter what differences there may be between the people concerned. Smiling is an invitation to tell people that we are approachable and ready to interact with them. When we are approachable, we find that those around us feel comfortable and safe with us. This smiling from our hearts also helps build up a trust with those around us, which can sometimes be difficult to achieve.
My own experiences as a nurse have taught me how valuable a simple smile is in gaining that trust from the patients in my care and their relatives. A simple smile shows the kindness, compassion and empathy that the patient is in desperate need of, during their time of vulnerability and fear of the uncertainties that lie ahead for them. On one occasion a lady was admitted to our ward for rehabilitation following an amputation of her leg. A few days after her admission she informed me and told all her family, that she instantly felt safe and knew she would recover well, when she saw my smiling face as I welcomed her on to the ward. Needless to say hearing this, put a smile on my face and made me feel happy. I built a strong rapport with this lady and her family, which is essential in caring for patients. The lady had a positive attitude and was soon discharged home, determined that she would enjoy life to the full, despite her life changing condition.
“We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do” Mother Teresa
Do we really understand how true the above quote is? Just greeting people with a smile, whether it is someone we know, the shop assistant who serves us, the waitress or the person we pass in the street, is a simple act of kindness which can result in bringing comfort and hope, and even might help someone to overcome their difficulties that they could be facing at that moment.
Mother Teresa also said, “Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.”
Let us be kind to one another and start by smiling. Let our smile make a difference to someone’s life. Smiling is so powerful that it is contagious. If we smile at someone they will smile back and may feel good about themselves, so that they too may smile at someone else. Have you ever noticed how babies always respond happily to a smiling face? Even from that young innocent age, they sense the joy and love that is conveyed through that simple smile. A smile can be so powerful that sometimes it will be heard in someone’s voice over a phone, or felt through something that is in writing.
Smiling can be very rewarding for us, as every time we smile and make others feel better, it raises our own confidence and self-esteem. I felt really good about myself having made my patient feel safe and comfortable in my care by just smiling warmly at her and welcoming her to the ward. There are many other occasions in my nursing career when I have been rewarded for showing compassion and kindness. Feeling a warm glow from within, knowing that you have done something to make someone happy or feel better is the best reward anyone can receive. This is what gives me the passion for nursing and makes a stressful job worthwhile.
We do not all have to nurse or be in the caring profession to give. Smiling at people is a form of giving. Those who give to others tend to be rewarded by receiving good fortune. Smiling can sometimes attract more good things and favours from people around us. We can also give to others by making them smile. by speaking kindly to them, or praising them when they have done something good, or surprising them and treating them to something special. There are many other things we can do to bring a smile to someone’s face, but I find a simple “thank you” with a smile in appreciation for something, is the most gratifying and it certainly makes me smile.
Smiling comes from within. Smiling to pose for a photograph is not always a genuine smile, as it is purely a facial expression and not coming from the heart. When someone smiles a genuine smile it is like turning on a light.
We all have a light within us and as we smile that light will shine through us brightening up our face and our whole being. A smile can lighten up our lives and the lives of others when we are in a dark place, even if it is only a glimmer of light it provides hope and comfort.
I am blessed as I am aware of the magical power of a smile, and it has been a wonderful asset for me throughout my nursing career and my life in general. Unfortunately not everyone realises the value of a smile. It’s not that they don’t want to smile, but they are either too wrapped up in their own worries and challenges that life throws at them, or they do not have a natural instinct to smile. Everyone deserves to be happy and smiling can enhance that happiness. It is important that we don’t forget how to smile and if it’s not a natural ability, practicing will make it easier and life will become more bearable and joyful. Some people may refuse to understand the value of smiling. We hope that one day they will understand and unlock their hearts, allowing the light and joy to flow into their lives.
Life is short, so we must make every moment memorable. Give happiness to others and we shall receive the same. Smiling is a step towards happiness, and is a wonderful gift you can give to others and to yourself. I hope this blog has made you smile and has brought some joy and happiness into your life. Remember to keep smiling.