Have you ever noticed that when someone yawns you immediately feel a yawn coming on? How about those moments of contagious laughter? I remember moments of laughter with my family and friends that went on so long that my cheeks hurt, I was crying, my stomach was cramping, and I thought we would never stop laughing.
Do you notice that when you are spending time with someone filled with doom and gloom you feel a bit blue? I suggest you pick a new color, after all there’s an entire rainbow. Have you ever cried simply because someone else was crying? Even if you had no idea why they were crying? Do you ever find yourself smiling when someone smiles at you? There is a correlation between your emotions and your facial expressions and a real smile is an emotional contagion.
So what is real? How do you differentiate between a real smile and a fake one? It’s all in the eyes, yes really it’s all in the eyes. The Duchenne Smile was first identified by French physician Guillaume Duchenne who discovered a clear anatomical difference between a real smile and a fake one. His research showed that a real smile activated not only the muscles that lift the corner of the mouth but the muscles around the eyes. You know the ones, those muscles that we lovingly call crows feet..so be proud if your crow’s feet are quite visible..it is a sign that you have had a long life filled with smiles.
Most often we associate a smile with first being happy, but did you know that if you are feeling down and you think of something that makes you smile, you now bring happiness to your day by first having the smile. Try this experiment, think of something that makes you smile, keep smiling and now change your thought to something sad and try to maintain your smile. If you are truly smiling and then think of something sad you can’t maintain that smile. Now, think of something that brings joy to you and try not to smile..not so easy is it?
Each of us have so many reason’s throughout our day to smile and if you can’t think of a reason just stop and think of all the things you have to be grateful for in your life. If you are still having a problem just look at the list of reasons to smile on this website and I bet you will come up with a few of your own.
Smiling improves your health and well-being. When you smile and feel the joy associated with a smile you can lower your blood pressure, reduce anxiety, increase positive energy, and enhance the life of those you meet throughout your day. A smile crosses language and cultural boundaries and is the best communication weapon you have and you carry it with you everywhere. Whoever may have said that the mouth is a very powerful weapon may have been speaking about what comes out of the mouth but I believe that the silent voice of our mouths is equally as important.
No matter the emotion or the facial expression, it is undeniable that what is written on your face and is in your heart effects those around you. The more genuine the expression, the more effective it is, so if you think faking a smile is going to make someone’s day..forget it...if you really want to make someone’s day, keep it real. Make today the day that you unleash your inner smile guru!
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Showing posts with label personal growth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label personal growth. Show all posts
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Friday, September 30, 2011
The importance of One!
All change begins with one, and that one is you, that one is me. If we each resolved to make a shift in our thinking, in the way we do things, and in our daily intentions, we would have a collective of intercultural cooperation.
I will give you examples of those shifts from my own life. Have you ever heard this when you were a child, "You need to eat everything on your plate, we don't waste food, there are children starving in other countries."? At the time we all thought, but gee I don't like it and more importantly we couldn't identify with those starving children. Even better, we would have gladly given them that food. Now we are adults and we know all too well the reality of children who are starving in other countries. The first step to ending world hunger; be more mindful in your own home and at your dinner table. As I learned the power of the message I was given as a child, I realized how important it was to only take what I could eat and even more importanatly to share the bounty with others. When is the last time you made food to share?
Another great shift in my life came as a survivor of multiple types of physical and emotional abuse and being able to not only survive those realities but also come out a stronger woman. I first had to bring peace into my heart. There came a point in my life when I no longer let the fear and self doubt control my life and what I knew I needed to do. I learned to love myself so I could live. I came to accept that those things happened to me, however, they did not define me. I believe that if we want to see an end to domestic violence, child abuse and to see world peace we must first shift our hearts and homes to a peaceful mindset.
I wear many different coats in the physical realm. I am a mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, aunt. I am a survivor of domestic violence, rape, molestation, and several serious health issues. The list goes on, yet who I really am is simply Spirit. All those other things are nothing more than roles I play on the stage of life and this is no dress rehearsal. There are no second chances. So my question to you is how will you make a shift?
I would be ill serving if I did not say to those of you reading this who may be struggling, it can and will get better when you intend it to. If you need to talk it through, I encourage you to use the Say Hello page and send me a note. I am here to inspire.
I will give you examples of those shifts from my own life. Have you ever heard this when you were a child, "You need to eat everything on your plate, we don't waste food, there are children starving in other countries."? At the time we all thought, but gee I don't like it and more importantly we couldn't identify with those starving children. Even better, we would have gladly given them that food. Now we are adults and we know all too well the reality of children who are starving in other countries. The first step to ending world hunger; be more mindful in your own home and at your dinner table. As I learned the power of the message I was given as a child, I realized how important it was to only take what I could eat and even more importanatly to share the bounty with others. When is the last time you made food to share?
Another great shift in my life came as a survivor of multiple types of physical and emotional abuse and being able to not only survive those realities but also come out a stronger woman. I first had to bring peace into my heart. There came a point in my life when I no longer let the fear and self doubt control my life and what I knew I needed to do. I learned to love myself so I could live. I came to accept that those things happened to me, however, they did not define me. I believe that if we want to see an end to domestic violence, child abuse and to see world peace we must first shift our hearts and homes to a peaceful mindset.
I wear many different coats in the physical realm. I am a mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, aunt. I am a survivor of domestic violence, rape, molestation, and several serious health issues. The list goes on, yet who I really am is simply Spirit. All those other things are nothing more than roles I play on the stage of life and this is no dress rehearsal. There are no second chances. So my question to you is how will you make a shift?
I would be ill serving if I did not say to those of you reading this who may be struggling, it can and will get better when you intend it to. If you need to talk it through, I encourage you to use the Say Hello page and send me a note. I am here to inspire.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
The Final Countdown!
Wow, I can't believe I am on the final countdown. In a couple of weeks I have my visit with the doctor and I am anticipating all will be fine and she will give me a green light. Then it is out the door and down the road. The fear and realty is setting in, I am about to spend an extended period of time purposefully homeless. I hope to inspire all of you that I meet along the way. I also hope you will follow my journey and post comments on here as I update the blog page.
My apartment is looking like a tornado went through it, sale again this week. The large furniture is gone. I am sleeping on an air mattress until I head out, it is actually kinda comfy. Still not sure what I will do about the puppies, really want to keep them together. They would be like siblings who went to separate foster homes, sad.
Fixing some last minute issues with the bike, and I will simply say that if you are considering long distance cycling, be sure to use a customer friendly bike shop. :(
I can't wait to post pictures and video from the road!
My apartment is looking like a tornado went through it, sale again this week. The large furniture is gone. I am sleeping on an air mattress until I head out, it is actually kinda comfy. Still not sure what I will do about the puppies, really want to keep them together. They would be like siblings who went to separate foster homes, sad.
Fixing some last minute issues with the bike, and I will simply say that if you are considering long distance cycling, be sure to use a customer friendly bike shop. :(
I can't wait to post pictures and video from the road!
Monday, August 8, 2011
How is being a survivor just like riding a bike?
This post is for all of you who have asked how did I get through the life experiences I have had and come out with a positive outlook. It is also for those of you who are struggling to find answers.
I would first have to attribute some of my ability to staying positive through adversity to a gift. At a very young age I discovered that I was able to separate who I am from my physical being, with the knowledge that what is happening to my person is not happening to me. This I truly believe is a gift from God.
I also know that some of the credit goes to watching my father. Having 8 children and many unexpected hurdles, to this day he just has faith and does whatever it takes to get through.
My life isn't just about surviving, anyone can do that, all you need is a pulse. My life is about living and not giving my life's energy to the negative things or negative people that come along. It is about awareness and about being here now. Does that mean I am never hurt, disappointed or have a bad day, absolutely not. I am just as human as the next person. What it does mean is that I don't live in those hurts, disappointments or bad days, I live through them to get to the other side and back out into the sunshine.
What can you do, well here are a few things to look at. What kind of energy are you surrounding yourself with? Studies have shown that we tend to become like the people we choose to spend our time with. Is it time for new friends, more positive friends?
What are you feeding your brain? What books are you reading or are you reading at all? Are you spending mindless hours in front of the tv? Are you learning new things? Here is a fun exercise for your brain; for one day do everything you would normally do but with your non-dominate hand, brush your teeth, comb your hair, do the dishes.
How are you caring for your body? Are you eating healthy? Are you moving each day? How about annual exams? Are you taking time for yourself?
Maybe you look at your life and all you see is stress. Determine is it dis-stress or eustress, is it bad or good. A bad stress would be a constant fearfulness, a good stress would be the excitement you feel when you walk into a gathering of friends and family who have surprised you for your birthday. If you are unsure how to deal with dis-stress contact me for suggestions.
Now you have a place to start, a new way of looking at the hurdles life throws in your path. No excuses.
I recall when I was about 7 or 8 years old my father was teaching me how to ride bike. He held onto the seat and I started pedaling. Of course, as any child would, I thought he would protect me from falling. I was so wrong, he let go and I landed in a rose bush. I was crying and scratched from the thorns. My father reached out his hand, helped me out of the bush, and said get back on the bike. At the time I had no idea that would be such a life lesson for me. When life throws you into the rose bush and leaves you wounded, get up, and get back on. The freedom I felt when I got back on and learned to ride is the same freedom I have every time I get back in to the game of life.
Being a survivor for me is much like riding a bike. The pedals on my bike are a reminder that I am the source of the power. God helps those who helps themselves. If I don't pedal, I go nowhere. The gears allow adjustments for the climb and help me to accept that change is a positive thing in life and it is there to help with the climb. The handlebars are clearly for direction and the knowledge that I can choose the direction my life goes. And last but not least, my helmet, my protection. This represents so many things. Friends, family, an organization that supports me in my time of need, and so much more. Most of all it represents the love I give myself everyday and in turn the love I have to share with others.
Share your love everyday, you will always get more than you give.
I would first have to attribute some of my ability to staying positive through adversity to a gift. At a very young age I discovered that I was able to separate who I am from my physical being, with the knowledge that what is happening to my person is not happening to me. This I truly believe is a gift from God.
I also know that some of the credit goes to watching my father. Having 8 children and many unexpected hurdles, to this day he just has faith and does whatever it takes to get through.
My life isn't just about surviving, anyone can do that, all you need is a pulse. My life is about living and not giving my life's energy to the negative things or negative people that come along. It is about awareness and about being here now. Does that mean I am never hurt, disappointed or have a bad day, absolutely not. I am just as human as the next person. What it does mean is that I don't live in those hurts, disappointments or bad days, I live through them to get to the other side and back out into the sunshine.
What can you do, well here are a few things to look at. What kind of energy are you surrounding yourself with? Studies have shown that we tend to become like the people we choose to spend our time with. Is it time for new friends, more positive friends?
What are you feeding your brain? What books are you reading or are you reading at all? Are you spending mindless hours in front of the tv? Are you learning new things? Here is a fun exercise for your brain; for one day do everything you would normally do but with your non-dominate hand, brush your teeth, comb your hair, do the dishes.
How are you caring for your body? Are you eating healthy? Are you moving each day? How about annual exams? Are you taking time for yourself?
Maybe you look at your life and all you see is stress. Determine is it dis-stress or eustress, is it bad or good. A bad stress would be a constant fearfulness, a good stress would be the excitement you feel when you walk into a gathering of friends and family who have surprised you for your birthday. If you are unsure how to deal with dis-stress contact me for suggestions.
Now you have a place to start, a new way of looking at the hurdles life throws in your path. No excuses.
I recall when I was about 7 or 8 years old my father was teaching me how to ride bike. He held onto the seat and I started pedaling. Of course, as any child would, I thought he would protect me from falling. I was so wrong, he let go and I landed in a rose bush. I was crying and scratched from the thorns. My father reached out his hand, helped me out of the bush, and said get back on the bike. At the time I had no idea that would be such a life lesson for me. When life throws you into the rose bush and leaves you wounded, get up, and get back on. The freedom I felt when I got back on and learned to ride is the same freedom I have every time I get back in to the game of life.
Being a survivor for me is much like riding a bike. The pedals on my bike are a reminder that I am the source of the power. God helps those who helps themselves. If I don't pedal, I go nowhere. The gears allow adjustments for the climb and help me to accept that change is a positive thing in life and it is there to help with the climb. The handlebars are clearly for direction and the knowledge that I can choose the direction my life goes. And last but not least, my helmet, my protection. This represents so many things. Friends, family, an organization that supports me in my time of need, and so much more. Most of all it represents the love I give myself everyday and in turn the love I have to share with others.
Share your love everyday, you will always get more than you give.
Monday, July 25, 2011
21 Days of Smiles
Thank you for taking on this challenge, I guarantee it will be fun and rewarding.
Studies have shown that it takes 21 days of consistent behavior to change a habit or create a new one. I am giving you a list of things that will fit in any one of these categories, good for you, good for someone else, good for the planet. All of them are sure to bring a smile to your face. These are just ideas, if they won’t work for you, create your own, mix them up, think outside the box, do the same thing twice, there are no rules, just flex your kindness muscles, and then share your stories here. I want to see the most outrageous, hear the most heart warming, and find out how many of you can hang for 21 days.
Be a pick up artist, wherever you go today pick up the trash you see along your way.
Call an old friend to say hello.
Stand in front of your mirror, smile and tell yourself “I love you”, use your name.
Offer to watch a friends children and give them some time away.
Smile at everyone you meet for the day.
Talk to a stranger.
Do something special for yourself, get a manicure, a massage, or something else you enjoy.
Take a child to a movie.
Donate lightly used books to the library.
Pay the tab for the person behind you.
Read to a child.
Let someone go in line in front of you.
Return someone else’s shopping cart.
Hold the door for a stranger.
Write a letter or thank you note to someone who made a difference in your life.
Say hello to everyone you meet throughout your day.
Donate to a food bank.
Make someone laugh.
Complain less.
Play with a child.
Take care of your body, get out and ride bike, take a hike, or play a game.
You don’t need to post everyday, try posting once a week or when it fits your schedule, you will have the bonus of inspiring others with your posts. Go to the comments and leave your heart warming stories. At the end of the 21 days I will pick a winner, the person with the most kindness given and the best posts on here will be rewarded with a special honor. Get in the game to win.
Studies have shown that it takes 21 days of consistent behavior to change a habit or create a new one. I am giving you a list of things that will fit in any one of these categories, good for you, good for someone else, good for the planet. All of them are sure to bring a smile to your face. These are just ideas, if they won’t work for you, create your own, mix them up, think outside the box, do the same thing twice, there are no rules, just flex your kindness muscles, and then share your stories here. I want to see the most outrageous, hear the most heart warming, and find out how many of you can hang for 21 days.
Be a pick up artist, wherever you go today pick up the trash you see along your way.
Call an old friend to say hello.
Stand in front of your mirror, smile and tell yourself “I love you”, use your name.
Offer to watch a friends children and give them some time away.
Smile at everyone you meet for the day.
Talk to a stranger.
Do something special for yourself, get a manicure, a massage, or something else you enjoy.
Take a child to a movie.
Donate lightly used books to the library.
Pay the tab for the person behind you.
Read to a child.
Let someone go in line in front of you.
Return someone else’s shopping cart.
Hold the door for a stranger.
Write a letter or thank you note to someone who made a difference in your life.
Say hello to everyone you meet throughout your day.
Donate to a food bank.
Make someone laugh.
Complain less.
Play with a child.
Take care of your body, get out and ride bike, take a hike, or play a game.
You don’t need to post everyday, try posting once a week or when it fits your schedule, you will have the bonus of inspiring others with your posts. Go to the comments and leave your heart warming stories. At the end of the 21 days I will pick a winner, the person with the most kindness given and the best posts on here will be rewarded with a special honor. Get in the game to win.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Can't take it with you.
Are you living life on purpose? Are you just playing the game? If life is a game, why not win? I am the first to admit I have spent many years just playing the game and not living my purpose. What changed? I call it my awakening. My awakening came in those moments where death was within a whisper and with one common theme. Life could end at any moment.
With the realization that at any moment my life could be over also came the realization that we take nothing with us, zero, zip. Not our money, not our gold, not the car we drive, the house we live in, the clothes we wear, not even those sentimental belongings, none of the things we hold as valuable would go with us when life is over. So I started to question, what was the real value of what I would leave behind. I have discovered along this journey that the real value I leave behind has nothing to do with my possessions.
My most valuable possessions start with who I am, the love I am here to give and live, and how I can contribute to the greater good.
Have you ever told yourself "you will be happy when", _________ fill in the blank? When you have a certain possession, when you have a certain amount of money, when you find your soul mate, and I am sure you can add to this list. What is on your "happy when" list? Happiness won't suddenly fill your life when....happiness will fill your life when you live each day asking, who am I, what is my purpose, and what must I be doing. You don't need to know all the answers, life will send the answers to you, just live now, tomorrow is not promised. Follow your heart.
In my next post I am going to offer you a 21 day smile challenge. It will be fun, exciting, and guaranteed to make you feel great.
With the realization that at any moment my life could be over also came the realization that we take nothing with us, zero, zip. Not our money, not our gold, not the car we drive, the house we live in, the clothes we wear, not even those sentimental belongings, none of the things we hold as valuable would go with us when life is over. So I started to question, what was the real value of what I would leave behind. I have discovered along this journey that the real value I leave behind has nothing to do with my possessions.
My most valuable possessions start with who I am, the love I am here to give and live, and how I can contribute to the greater good.
Have you ever told yourself "you will be happy when", _________ fill in the blank? When you have a certain possession, when you have a certain amount of money, when you find your soul mate, and I am sure you can add to this list. What is on your "happy when" list? Happiness won't suddenly fill your life when....happiness will fill your life when you live each day asking, who am I, what is my purpose, and what must I be doing. You don't need to know all the answers, life will send the answers to you, just live now, tomorrow is not promised. Follow your heart.
In my next post I am going to offer you a 21 day smile challenge. It will be fun, exciting, and guaranteed to make you feel great.
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