Morning Mind Set: Adopting A Conscious Smile

Welcome friends.

In today's morning mindset,

Let's set the intention of adopting a soft and conscious smile.

When we contemplate the images of the saints,

Images of the Buddha,

We may notice that a beatific smile appears just faintly at the corners of the mouth.

This Buddha smile we can adopt throughout the day,

Just softly raising the corners of our mouths,

Softening the lips and taking a breath.

When we do,

We send a message to our bodies.

Researchers in neuroscience tell us serotonin,

Dopamine and various endorphins are released in the brain,

Lifting our sense of well-being ever so slightly.

The mind can direct the body and the brain will follow the body.

I used to drive to work every morning and often I was struck by how many people I saw in cars coming in the opposite direction,

Who were frowning,

Often deeply.

Their mouths were turned down and their expressions seemed tight and heavy.

I thought,

If they spend a lifetime practicing an expression of unhappiness,

Don't their bodies come to feel this is normal?

We can teach our bodies differently.

We can use that little bit of freedom that consciousness allows to train our bodies and affect our minds.

Today then,

Let us consciously practice smiling,

Just softly.

As we do,

Let's take a breath,

Pause and send a message of well-being to ourselves and others.

Have a beautiful day.