Some smiles come easily. Seeing your kids do something amazing. Watching a hilarious video on Instagram.
Some smiles are hard-won. Finding the strength to draw a boundary. Using your voice to ask for what you truly want.
Years ago I was accused of being too positive. Too high energy. I started to apologize and then caught myself. I wasn’t being fake. I wasn’t pretending. My positivity has been hard-earned – hard-won.
Why the need to apologize to someone because their misery wanted me to be more miserable too?!
Nope. That’s just — as the professionals say — cray cray.
If you’ve lost your smile lately… I’m here to share the good and bad news… you’re the only one who can find it.
If you hate your job but love the golden paycheck.
If you’re in a miserable relationship, but fear being alone forever.
If you’re struggling to reconnect, but are afraid of rejection.
If you’re working your ass off, but resent the grind.
Well… then it’s time to have an honest conversation with yourself. Dry January is over and Sober October doesn’t begin for months. Pour yourself a stiff beverage and ask yourself… What fire might I need to walk through to discover my smile on the other side?
Hugs,
AmyK
One quote from Mother Teresa always stays with me regarding this beautiful post on Smile. She said, ” a simple smile” to anyone passig by or infront of you says so so much.
In the Police I had on occasion to deal with complaints about officers ‘smiling’!
We must be mindful of interpretations in certain scenarios.
Smiling can be automatic, defensive via stress or simply looking to engage with others.
Be mindful of the Non Verbal Communication indicators.
For example, if conducting a performance review meeting with a lazy individual, smiling may not be the appropriate professional action to take initially.
If there is a turnaround during the meeting, then positive indicators are most welcome and should be celebrated.
I’ve been accused of being a Polly Anna, but I figure I’m not the one with the problem. I have plenty of realism to strip me of my joy and smile, but I choose my attitude and I choose joy.
Seen in a souvenir shop: a glass with a straw in it. On the glass it said, “If I give you a straw would you please suck the joy out of someone else’s day?”
I smile when I have something that makes me smile. There is no conversation I need to have with myself if I do not feel like smiling. If it comes to needing a drink to smile that would indicate a problem. Some of us smile more than others. It all goes according to how one feels. There is nothing wrong with not smiling.