We all live such stressful lives these days – profession, spouses, children, colleagues, neighbors, all are hell bent to make our life miserable, isn’t it ?
In addition, we have project deadlines, demanding clients, colleagues, spouses, EMIs, peer pressure, competition, middle age crisis, pollution, corruption … the list goes on.
Nowadays, we see tense and serious faces everywhere – looks like people have forgotten how it is to smile or to laugh.
I remember attending one of Deepak Chopra’s talks. He said he was very inspired by Dalai Lama. The reason, he said, was that Dalai Lama was always smiling and he needed no reason to smile.
It prompted me to think.
Why do we need a reason to smile and / or be happy ? Why can’t we be, just, happy ?
I realised that one shouldn’t only smile when one is happy. Rather, it works the other way round. If you smile, you will feel happy.
If you are only happy because of a reason – a good job, a great car, latest smartphone, any material relationship or possession, it is no good or worthwhile. One reason is that such a thing may not be permanent. Secondly, as and when you see someone with a better job, car, relationship or the like, you may feel jealous and your happiness may get punctured and vanish! Preachings like don’t-compare-yourself-with-others, etc. don’t work actually, do they ? So, a reason for your happiness may not keep you happy for long.
Now, let’s see how does a smile help ?
First and foremost, a smile costs nothing, why not grab something that’s free and so easily available?
Further, a smile increases your face value. It makes you feel good and happy.
Smile is contagious, trust me. It has a great exponential value of spreading happiness and feel-good atmosphere. Everyone feels good in happy company.
You will certainly look much better if you smile.
There’s a sinister reason too – some people may start getting jealous about the unknown reason of your smile (read happiness) and you know very well that you have arrived if people are jealous with you.
If you come to think of it and start counting, you may have innumerable reasons to feel good (even beyond material things!).
Did I say, you don’t need a reason to smile in the beginning ? Ok, I take it back slightly.
Count your blessings, smile and feel happy, with or without a reason.
As a parting shot, try smiling while talking on the phone [unless you have very strong reasons not to :-)]. The person on the other end will not be able to see your smile, but he / she will note a difference in your tone and trust me, the conversation will become pleasant and more congenial.
Keep smiling, keep shining.
Good luck ! Tell me how it goes.
Originally posted on May 15, 2015. Relevant forever.
