Have YOU Smiled today?
There is a hidden world behind each human face. There is a simple yet deep beauty behind each human smile. A smile that comes from deep within the heart brightens up not just the face it is coming from but also the faces that are looking at it.
You know what your outer smile looks like but have you ever considered what your inner smile looks like? Imagine looking at the fresh bulb of tulips opening in your spring garden, a puppy looking at you with half-open eyes, Sun rising behind the snow-covered peaks, a yellow butterfly landing on your hand out of nowhere, a black horse galloping on the green grass, a yogi sitting in deep meditation under a tree, a baby cooing innocently in his mother’s lap and you will feel your inner smile bubbling up from your heart. This Smile is not dependent on anyone or anything but it is your deep nature. It is your Self that is always at peace, no matter what is happening on the outside.
The Inner Smile is also a meditation technique that teaches you how to live effortlessly with an open heart. You can practice it while sitting quietly with your eyes closed or you can practice it while engaged in everyday activities. You are not trying to fix anything or ask any part of yourself or others to change. This is the power of non-verbal communication coupled with a clear mind intent to find and accept the harmony hidden within everything.
What could be easier than simply smiling? Can we really learn to practice it as a skill? Did you know that an infant smiles while in a mother’s womb? See, this is an inherent part of you, your effortless nature!
Although it is simple, inner smiling is a skill that improves over time and ultimately leads to a deep sense of gratitude for everything as it is without feeling the need to control it or judge it.
Studies show that a genuine smile contributes to your health. It can lift your mood, alleviate your stress, and relieve any pain you’re feeling. Did you know that it can even regulate your blood pressure? Indeed, smiling (and generally being happy) regularly affects your health by relaxing your muscles, then regulating your heart rate and blood pressure. It can boost your immunity as well, protecting you from many possible diseases.
As the Vietnamese monk, Thich Nhat Hanh said so beautifully, “Sometimes, your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.”
~ Ritu