The Power of a Smile

April 2024

The act of creating an “inner smile” is an ancient practice with Daoist roots. It is a simple technique that everyone can learn to bring themselves more into the moment along with creating a more tranquil and happier existence. An inward smile ignites mindfulness, effortless focus, self-integration, and a more positive state of being filled with peace. It can be further directed to aspects of the body such as internal organs to cleanse them energetically – thereby releasing negative emotions that impair their proper physiological function. This includes anger from the liver, grief from the lung, worry from the spleen, fear from the kidney, and overjoy and sadness from the heart.

The Daoists have known for millennia that “smiling down” into the body has profound healing results. Scientific research has substantiated that altering the face to be rested or smiling improves disposition. In the 1960’s, researcher James Laird posed the question as to whether people were happy because they smiled or smiled because they were happy. Through application of electrodes on the participants’ foreheads and cheeks, Laird found that those who were tricked into smiling were significantly happier.

A University of Michigan study used photography as a cover story taking pictures of people saying “ee” or “ooo” to exemplify cheer or disgust and found that those who said “ee” were happier. Researchers from Washington University evaluated the impact of a frown versus a neutral expression and reported that subjects with a neutral face rated themselves as happier. And French research physiologist Dr Israel Waynbaum found that facial muscles used to express emotion trigger specific brain neurotransmitters. He established that frowning triggers secretion of stress hormones, while smiling lowers those of cortisol, adrenaline, and noradrenaline. It also signals pain-relieving endorphins, immune boosting killer T-cells, along with producing hormones that stabilize blood pressure, relax muscles, improve respiration, accelerate healing, and stabilize mood.

There is no better time than now to begin putting the “inner smile” into practice:

• Sit comfortably on a chair, hands resting on your lap and feet relaxed on the floor
  
• Ground into the earth through the soles of your feet
  
• Hold your spine upright, lift the crown of your head upward
  
• Connect with the heaven through the crown of your head
  
• Relax your neck muscles and gently place your tongue on the roof of your mouth
  
• Soften your eyes, center yourself and look within
  
• Take three slow, gentle, and deep breaths into your lower belly – expanding upon inhale and deflating upon exhale
  
• Relax your forehead and brow, becoming mindful of your “third eye”
  
• Gently lift the corners of your mouth
  
• Draw your cheeks back as though they are heading toward a smile
  
• Then extend your smile into your entire body
  
• Feel the vibrations of your entire body being raised
  
• If so inclined, send your smile to any place in your body that needs extra healing
  
• Continue “smiling into your body” for up to fifteen minutes
  
• End by taking three slow, gentle, and deep breaths into your lower belly once again
  

Staying relaxed, patient, and compassionate with yourself throughout this mindfulness exercise is important. If tension appears, simply take a few deep breaths, and return to the practice. If your mind wanders, direct your intention to drawing it back upon realizing that it has drifted away. Practicing this meditation technique teaches you what it feels like to “smile into your body”. You can then naturally do so throughout your day for a few seconds or up to a minute when the need arises. It can be practiced at any time, and no one will notice – except for feeling the positive vibes. Enjoy the process and know that it will have an everlasting impact on your health, healing, and wellness.

Sitemap