30 Day Trial: Smiling

[Mister Michael]

Dear forum,

I'm three days into a trial and want to invite you all to take it up yourselves. The trial is simple. For thirty days you must practice smiling. You can set aside a few minutes to try it in front of a mirror or you can just occasionally remind yourself to smile from time to time. Honestly, I am hoping that participants in the trial will use different methods allowing me to find which are most effective (although, of course, I would prefer that everyone got as much out of it as possible).

There's a lot to gain from this simple practice. I've even read that those who get botox injections are far happier than they were before because of their new smiles. But why pay for a smile? Just DIY. I'll be more or less blogging about the trial every day on this thread and I would like everyone else who wants to to do the same. Post pics if you want. I will if someone lends me a camera.

Best regards,
Mister Michael

[Brutha]

Smiling on purpose might get you somewhere eventuelly.
I think it's better to do something that makes you smile genuinely.
Be happy.

Firing an NLP happyiness anker puts a smile on my face with isn't forced.

[Mister Michael]

Smiling on purpose might get you somewhere eventuelly.

What if I said it's gotten me somewhere already? Like I said, I'm three days in and there have already been improvements.

I think it's better to do something that makes you smile genuinely.
Be happy.

That sounds fine at first blush but I disagree. It's just plain inefficient. Why go and do something else every time I want to smile when just smiling is simpler?

Firing an NLP happyiness anker puts a smile on my face with isn't forced.

I knew NLP would show up here eventually. I'm expecting someone to talk about EFT, too. Maybe Yoga as well. But I digress. An NLP anchor takes time and effort to develop. Why bother with that when just smiling will do the same?

[Jenncoop]

Hi Michael,
What a great idea. I smile most of the time, it's an amazing way to communicate with others. When I'm not smiling people notice and know something is not quite right with me. The benefits of even "faking a smile" is that you will get a smile from someone in return. Even a stranger on the street will respond to your smile. What a gift!

Keep practicing your smile it will come more naturally as time goes by :-)

[Brutha]

An NLP anchor takes time and effort to develop.

It something that's done within twenty minutes. You could even do it in ten.

Why bother with that when just smiling will do the same?

Not every smile is equal.
If you smile by using your muscles directly you often increase tension in your face.
If you smile naturally it relaxes facial muscles.
You just need to find somebody to take you through the process.

[Mister Michael]

It something that's done within twenty minutes. You could even do it in ten.

Yes, and smiling takes, let's say, a second. Conditioning the trigger then takes 600-1200 times as long as is necessary.

Not every smile is equal.

Check.

If you smile by using your muscles directly you often increase tension in your face.

Check.

If you smile naturally it relaxes facial muscles.

You just need to find somebody to take you through the process.

This, however, isn't right. You just need to have basic feeling in your face. If you must have a method, frown and then try to feel what your face naturally does afterwards. Focus on that natural relaxation and your smiling. Takes three seconds or so.

[cassiopeia]

Mister Michael, that's an excellent idea for a 30 day trial. So simple, but so profound.

[Mister Michael]

Originally Posted by Jenncoop

Hi Michael,
What a great idea. I smile most of the time, it's an amazing way to communicate with others. When I'm not smiling people notice and know something is not quite right with me. The benefits of even "faking a smile" is that you will get a smile from someone in return. Even a stranger on the street will respond to your smile. What a gift!

Keep practicing your smile it will come more naturally as time goes by :-)

Thanks, to be honest I had not thought that far ahead. I was mostly thinking "smiling makes me feel better and is free, so why not?" But that's certainly worth taking into consideration.

Mister Michael, that's an excellent idea for a 30 day trial. So simple, but so profound.

I like simple .


Anyway, just in case anyone is wondering, it's day four in my trial and this is actually coming along very well. Although I haven't been at his long, smiling has become my default facial expression. I'm not sure but I think it's also having some effect on my posture. Maybe because a smile could be considered good facial posture. I'm actually feeling a little buzzed from the endorphins but I think that'll wear off when I'm used to being a little happier.

Happy living,
Mister Michael

[Alen]

I have been actually doing the same trial these days.

The results are awesome. Even when you start smiling intentionally after a few seconds you get the real smile on your face. The mind and body relax. You start feeling self confident and happier. It's just a plain simple way to become happier.

Just smile. Intentionally. That's all. Just do it!

Keep up the good work!

[Mister Michael]

Thanks. Glad to see someone else is enjoying this, too.

[lifetimelearner]

very cool idea

I read somewhere -yes it was in the book Eat,Pray,love Elizabeth Gilbert's official website
where she was taught a form of meditation which had to do with sitting still and smiling -smiling all the way to your toes !

[Mister Michael]

Originally Posted by lifetimelearner

very cool idea

I read somewhere -yes it was in the book Eat,Pray,love Elizabeth Gilbert's official website
where she was taught a form of meditation which had to do with sitting still and smiling -smiling all the way to your toes !

I've heard of something like that but it was a qigong exercise.