A Simple, Silly Exercise
We often feel silly smiling or laughing on our own. But isn’t it interesting that we don’t feel as self-conscious about frowning, scowling or wearing other “down” expressions, whether or not we are alone? Which kind of expression do you think has the power to shift our energy positively and help us feel better?
If you read the book or watched the movie Eat, Pray, Love, you probably remember Ketut, the guru Elizabeth Gilbert worked with during her stay in Bali. You might also remember that he suggested she’d practice one hour of “smile yoga” on a daily basis, to help balance the more serious Indian-style meditation. “Smile in your liver,” he said. That’s a fitting recommendation, considering that the liver is associated with anger in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and plays a big part in detoxing our body.
Sadhguru, a well-known Indian yogi, mystic and author, has a similar prescription for starting your day well or shifting your mood from bad to good: Smile! Find that joyful child within you and smile the minute you get out of bed. Keep wearing that smile as you go through your morning routine. Smile even if you can’t connect with your inner child at that moment. Smile when things work out... or don’t! Smile just for the heck of it. Sustain it for as long as you can; chances are, you’ll be able to hold it for a longer period of time every day. This simple, silly exercise will change your life... and positively touch the lives of many others around you.
Gisele Marasca-Vargas; 09/28/23
Photo by Senjuti Kundu on Unsplash