“Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh
I’ve been really inspired lately by several stories about the simple power of a smile.
It’s natural to be drawn to people who smile. We all want to know a smiling person – spend time with them, and enjoy their positivity.
The same as frowns, scowls and grimaces all push people away. a smile draws people in.
It’s also an act of generosity – sharing a moment with someone else, and brightening their day.
Which brings to mind a very strong memory for me. Several years ago I went to my local temple for meditation classes and teachings on the dharma. One day as I walked in, I came across a Nun sweeping. She looked up and smiled at me, and I will never forget the beauty of her smile.
I have never before, or since, come across such a genuine, open, and loving smile. She touched my life.
A couple of months ago I was very blessed to have come across this wonderful video:
Spreading Smiles on San Francisco Streets and Beyond
Meet Claire Lemmel and check out her inspiring mission to make strangers smile
Watching this video filled me with such warmth and hope – that there are people like this in the world who want to make others happy. This is something that I very much aspire to do myself.
I watched the video early in March, and it has really stayed with me.
I was then lucky enough to read this great blog post:
Imagine a world where we did our best to make other people feel better. I know that something as simple as a smile can brighten someones day, so I give them freely. I never run out, they replenish like magic.
Both of these inspired me to start smiling more (in fact here is a *very bad* photo of me a friend snapped during a video call).
Smiling increases our ability to think holistically. Research has shown that people who smile perform better on tasks that required seeing the whole forest rather than just the trees.
So remember..
When you smile, you light up the room, change the moods of the people around you, and make everything happier.
Smile lots and you will draw people to you.
istopforsuffering 
I agree with you!
*happy smiles and hugs*
I think it’s so marvelous that one person’s smile can resonate with you so deeply and shift our thinking in general in a happier direction! Awesome post! I will carry your smile in my heart-song today!
Oh I am touched by your lovely post. Thank you :-).
You had me with the Thich Nhat Hahn quote. 🙂 I tell my students all the time that the secret to being successful (in the big sense–not just academically or financially, but as a human being) is to “fake it ’til you make it.” If you always smile, you will eventually become happy in actuality. And in the meantime, you will be spreading happiness to others. Another similar quote from Muhammad Ali is, “I said I was the greatest until I was.” 🙂
Oh, I love that quote!!! :-). That is so true – so much is to do with the power of the mind. Another quote “with our thoughts we build our world” comes to mind.
Reblogged this on stallwoodconsulting.
Smiling is a trait of the strong.I also met a few smiles in my life which are lasting through,a gang of nurses i met in a hospital when my kid was admitted, and an air-hostess during a flight,who took every step to help me calm down my infant who had colic.Some people are genuinely sweet, and their sweetness is reflected on their faces!
that is so true! :-). And genuine smiles are truly the most beautiful thing.
Reblogged this on Christian-Buddhist Journey and commented:
What better way to improve your mood and the mood of others than to simply smile. Smiling is a great way to share your joy with others. So get out there and smile…
“Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”
― Siddhārtha Gautama