Unleash Your Smile!

Smiles brought such pleasing responses from family and friends, as a child, that I began to capitalize on smiling. As a young adult, people nicknamed me smiley.  Smiling at folks is so natural for me now, I don't even think about it.  Often people say that are attracted to me because of my smile.  I started thinking more about the power of a smile and discovered exactly why it can be so potent.

Smile for Smile  In a crowd, I find it fascinating to smile intentionally one-on-one at folks who pass by me. To make it more personal, I look each individual in the eye as well.  With few exceptions, each person smiles back, though we are strangers.

Mirror Effect  Intriguingly, the mirror neurons in another person's brain respond when she sees someone's action with a specific intent behind it.  Random actions don't have the same effect, David Rock notes.  Why?  mirror neurons seem to be the brain's mechanisms for understanding another person's goals and objectives, and the upshot is feeling connected to her.

A smile must be genuine - people easily detect a fake smile

Unleash the power of your smile by smiling...

at a spouse or colleague - especially when you don't feel like it. As the smile is returned it can transform your mood.

when introduced to someone new.  A smile enhances an opportunity to make a lifetime friendship from that connection.

at an appropriate moment as you listen intently to unique ideas or someone's story.

when you face intense events such as an accident or death of a loved one.  I find that it takes my mind to the most pleasant experiences I've had with the person and smiling calms me down.

when someone close lets you down.  Giving them a genuine form of encouragement can turn an event upside-down, which could otherwise cause a problem.

to begin your day with sunshine inside.  Your actions form inside out...

at folks many just pass by.  People in wheelchairs, from other cultures, too thin, too heavy and especially those with purple tips in their hair feel a lift from you.  I find as I go a step further to initiate a conversation by asking a 2-footed question, I am blessed.

when people serve you well - or even fail to.  Somehow it lifts the service up a notch.

when you "have to" write an essay or blog.  Missing motivation and inspiration return.

as you look for solutions to problems.  Get into an activity that really makes you smile.  In 20 minutes or less hat brings a solution aha and it might work for you.

Play it forward... Make a difference as you unleash your smile to others.  Any more ideas you'd like to share?