Image: sxc.hu

Do you ever notice how children respond to a smile?  Even a baby who, you think, is too young to really notice people.  Smile, and so often the child will smile back at you, perhaps wave its arms and make sounds if it hasn’t learned, “Hi.”

I’ve often wondered what’s in the power of a smile that a tiny tot will respond.  What  if your whole family begins to smile?  What would that mean to the attitude of your home?

It’s difficult to be angry if you’re truly smiling.  Often this dissolves into giggles.

What about trying a campaign of smiles with your family, your friends and even the strangers you meet?  Teach your children the power of a smile.

Post from: Blisstree

The Power of a Smile

According to Dr. Thom E. Lobe, MD of Beneveda Medical Group, there’s practical solutions people everywhere can incorporate into their lives to get their grin on once again.

So (not to sound corny), but what can you do to turn that frown upside down? Here are some of the doctor’s tips:

1. Get your vitamin D level checked. Most of us are vitamin D deficient yet don’t know it. Take a supplement if necessary.
2. Learn how to breathe properly. Coordinate your breath and heart rate and you will help re-set your brain waves into a more relaxing rhythm.
3. Eat healthier. When you are overloaded on fats and sweets you feel more depressed.
4. Exercise. Exercise boosts production of serotonin, the “happy hormone.”
5. Volunteer. Help kids, the elderly, the disabled, the needy. Put your focus on someone else for a change.
6. Go hunt for a bargain. Find your bargain, whatever it is, and then move in for the kill. This is another great way to experience a serotonin high.
7. Take your spouse, partner or friend somewhere fun and unexpected. Make it a date, and don’t tell the person where you are going.
8. Visit a farmers market. Buy a healthy treat, talk to farmers, shoppers and try some new organic fare.
9. Go for a walk every day no matter what, and vary your routine. Take in new sights and sounds.
10. Don’t get on the phone and gossip. It only fuels further feelings of envy or encourages ridicule of others. Neither is productive to feeling good.

Image: Sxc.hu

Post from: Blisstree

Finding Happiness in Tough Times

A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.  ~Phyllis Diller
 

You’ve decided that you are open to meeting someone and you’ve made your wish list known. The next step is to show the world that you are open to meeting someone. The two best ways to do that are to make eye contact and to smile. 

I work midday at an elementary school.  I am a teacher’s aide and I spend lunch hours with about 570 children.  I like all of the students, but there are quite a few special kids that greet me with a big smile each day.  I feel those smiles and appreciate them each day.  Kids seem to instinctively know how to attract friends. They are open and warm. They grab the hand of the child next to them and say, “Lets go………” They are fairly fearless. 

As adults, we learn to put up walls. We learn to be guarded and private and it’s never as easy to make friends once we walk off campus that last time.  Think back to high school. As awkward as it could be, it was often easier to meet kids, to develop a crush, than it is as an adult. Just being around all those peers, having access to so many fellow humans in a similar stage of life, it made a difference. Of course, we were teens then and teens aren’t wired to appreciate what they have, unfortunately. 

I’m going to issue you a challenge.  I challenge you to make eye contact and smile at least 5 new people today.  Try for 10, if possible, but shine that smile of yours on at least 5. 

Here’s what I think will happen, that smile will be contagious.  The person you smiled at, they are going to take that on, internalize that warmth you shared, and they are going to, in turn, shine it back at someone else. I could be wrong, there are some true curmudgeons out there, but that is probably not the kind of person we are hoping to attract anyway. Right? 

Sharing something positive, it’s going to make you feel good, it’s going to increase your confidence. This is a small step, I know, but maybe baby stepping it is the true path to success. It’s the small changes that you can easily make a regular part of your day. 

Give it a try and let me know what happens. Good or bad, I’m curious and if you’ve got a challenge for me, let me know. I’m game for pretty much any sort of self-improvement. I’m not fully formed yet, still a work in progress. How about you? 

Image credit: Michelle Smith

Post from: Blisstree

Lead With A Smile…

Image by creativeFlutter
AKA MazerDesign via Flickr

I’ve been told on many ocassions that I’m a “natural flirt”. Unfortunately (sometimes) this attracts natural flirts of the opposite sex who have no intentions, they just flirt without realizing it. Or they misunderstand me, and think I’m interested (regardless whether they are or not, or I am or not) and react accordingly based on their interest (or lack thereof).

Personally, I don’t think that conscious flirting is really necessary. I think if as a woman, you’re attracted to a man, and you’re confident in who you are, then the whole thing comes so naturally that you don’t have to think about it. You can let a man know you’re interested without concentrating on it or trying too hard (which can often come off really, really badly).

AskMen focuses on silly things like “She draws attention to her mouth,” and that just tells me that they’re playing into the fantasies men have. You’re either an orally fixated person or you’re not. Personally, I’d change this one around to say, “She focuses on your mouth when you’re talking.” I say this because despite how much I consciously try to focus on a man’s eyes when I’m attracted to him and he’s talking to me, my gaze always fixates on his lips. Shoot, I just gave it away, didn’t I?

In any event, like I said, I don’t really believe in trying to concentrate so hard on flirting. Likely because it’s just something that naturally happens with me, but moreso because I think that trying too hard to do anything is just bad.

1. Be comfortable in your own skin (and, in your fabulous outfit).
2. Be confident in WHO you are.
3. Smile.

As far as I’m concerned, that’s ALL you need to know.

Post from: Blisstree

The Art of Flirting – Do You NEED To Study?

However, do we really resign ourselves to this perennial state of crushing? Complete with long sighs and stolen glimpses? Will we ever feel any hope that he’d really, truly pay attention?

Over the course of time, I’ve observed that one thing that can best help this sort of situation. You’ll probably laugh when you find out what it is since it’s really quite simple and you just might even say, “Oh, I know that!” So, what is it then?

Smile.

Flashing your pearly whites is a classic way of sending the guy proper signals — a clear invitation to connect. I’ve learned that guys can be as scared in initiating contact as much as any girl, and a smile can easily cure the uneasiness. It will tell them that you don’t bite and you’re interested to make contact.

A smile that reaches to the eyes, all warm and natural, is a great way to get his attention. But, of course, this may not be applicable to all men.

This is my personal opinion, which is based on observations and personal experinces. If you disagree with my formed theory, feel free to correct me.

Post from: Blisstree

Want to Get His Attention?