 |
Smile!
Author: Richard Lefever  | Posted: 11-04-2007 | Comments: 0 | Views: 55 | Rating: (50)  (?) 
Smile right now! Regardless of what is going on in your life I want you to smile. Smile big. Smile goofy. Smile a smile that spreads from your lips to your entire face and eyes, even your neck, shoulders, and scalp. Just smile!
Let me talk to you about choices for a moment. Each moment we have a choice about how we feel. Most often, we are caught up in the events of the moment, and forget we have that choice. Whenever we remember, however, we can shift gears with a simple physical action: a smile.
Our emotional state at any given moment is a result of our brain's chemistry. If you'll forgive the term, a "heady" combination of hormones and neural chemicals result in the particular 'flavor' of our brain soup. Our brain spices are different when angry than when sad, or ecstatic. Based on this idea that each emotion creates, or results (causation is not an issue in this article) in a particular chemical balance in our brains, it is pretty obvious that we can not entertain two opposing emotions at the same time. Just as your stove top chowder can't be 'too salty' and 'not salty enough' at the same time, so your brain can't be chemically spiced as 'sad' and 'happy' at the same time.
So...in those moments of lucidity when you become aware of who controls your brain's spice cabinet, here is what I suggest-always season your brain, and your day, with a smile.
Let me suggest an experiment you can do right now. Just as you are sitting there now and reading this: Recall a less than glorious experience. As you recall this experience, notice how your brain and body begin to feel correspondingly poorly. Don't let yourself feel too bad. Feel just bad enough to notice a change in your brain soup.
As soon as you notice a poor feeling, smile. Stop smiling. Smile bigger. Stop smiling. Smile even bigger. Stop smiling. Smile your biggest goofiest smile. Now, try to stop smiling. Hard to stop smiling, isn't it?
Smiles seem to be one of those physical postures or actions that are 'hard-wired' to a particular emotional state. You simply can not feel sad while smiling. Try it.
Smiling is only one easy physical gesture that is hard-wired to an emotional state. Frowns are as well, but why fiddle around with negative states? Instead, let us consider some other posture or activities that are naturally connected to positive, or enjoyable emotional states.
Here is a good one...try feeling depressed while standing up straight. Hold your head high, breath high into your chest, and try to feel depressed or sad. Most people can not do it. Knowledge of such postural effects on emotions is deeply engrained into our language. Think of such phrases as "Hold your head high" or "chin up" as encouraging phrases offered to suffering friends.
Many people can't feel bad when simply looking up with their eyes. Try it. Try to recall a sad or depressing thought while aiming your eyes high.
Use your body to flavor your 'brain soup'. You'll like the positive flavor.
This is another helpful tip from Richard Lefever and the brain weavers at Quit! Check us out at "www.quitsmokingoregon.com."
Rate this Article:
Current: 0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s).
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/self-help-articles/smile-129691.html
|
Submitting articles has become one of the most popular means to drive traffic to your website and promote yourself and your business. Join us today - It's Free! |
|
Related Articles
Want To Feel Incredible?
By: Richard Lefever | 11/04/2007 | Advice
It is "O" dark thirty (actually about 5am). Out of habit my conscious mind snaps to attention. My very first complete conscious thought is to repeat the word "Incredible!" Suddenly I feel a surge of energy, a smile growing on my lips, and regardless of what the day might...
Learn To Fail To "fail"!
By: Richard Lefever | 21/04/2007 | Self Help
We are all very good at making ourselves feel bad. We come by the habit honestly. Think back to learning to spell in grammar school. Our tests come back from the teacher with the errors marked with red checks. A quick review of our formative years probably shows much more...
How To Get A Man To Quit Smoking
By: Wendy N. Lapidus-Saltz | 07/12/2007 | Health
It's my job to hypnotize people to stop smoking. I also hypnotize people to create outrageous new possibilities in their lives. But helping people rid themselves of a life-threatening, debilitating habit is what makes me jump out of bed in the morning.
So if you'd like to know how to help...
Nail Biting - An Awful Compulsion You Can Quickly Break With Hypnosis
By: Alan B. Densky, CH | 24/05/2007 | Self Help
Nail biting is related to skin picking and hair pulling. These behaviors are labeled as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders. Nail biters keep their hands behind their backs or in their pockets. Nail biters often feel social embarrassment and experience out-of-control feelings at times. At times they may wonder why...
Break Your Cigarette Smoking Habit The Easy Way With Hypnosis
By: Alan B. Densky, CH | 24/05/2007 | Self Help
Quitting smoking really is a necessity at this point in history, because smoking cigarettes has been banned from restaurants and other public places. And in fact, it is definitely the intelligent thing to do for more reasons than good health alone. This editorial explores the very best hypnosis and NLP...
Making Yourself, And Others, Feel Good With Your Tongue!
By: Richard Lefever | 22/04/2007 | Self Help
How to Make Yourself, and Others, Feel Good With your Tongue!
We are blessed with a marvelous and mighty device that can, in moments, stir the best feelings, or the worst, in ourselves and in those around us. That device is, of course, our tongue. I am referring specifically to our...
Hynotherapy's Many Uses
By: Danna Schneider | 24/08/2008 | Health
When I first started to gain interest in the field of hypnotherapy, and how I could use it personally for self improvement, I did not realize how extensively hypnosis could not only help mold and improve the human mind, but also how many applications outside of pure "self improvement" it actually had.
Why Cigarettes are so Addictive
By: John P. Smith | 16/12/2007 | Quit Smoking
Many people think that cigarettes are so addictive due to their nicotine content. Little do they know that nicotine is only part of the picture.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Someone who stays indoors all the time is called
By: noele148 | 04-10-2008
someone who stays indoors all the time is called
I recently left my job after working 25 years at ...
By: Barbara | 01-10-2008
I recently left my job after working 25 years at the company. I took on a new position managing a team remotely. The job left me physically and mentally sick. I was under the doctors care being treated for anxiety and depression. I told my boss that i did not have the strength to continue on Wednesday and Friday was my last day. Rather than take a leave of absence, i thought it was only fair to the company to leave since this was a newly created position and i didn't know that even after i got myself better if i would not get myelf sick again from the job. Can you advise me as to whether I am able to apply for unemployment or disability -- my doctor has written a note that I am under her care and should not be back at work until further notice.
Transfer of Unemployment Benefits
By: Deniese Mack | 30-09-2008
I live in Texas but I am moving to Atlanta, Ga. I am receiving unemployment right now. How do I transfer my unemployment from Texas to Georgia?
Point system and unemployment
By: khoffmeyer | 30-09-2008
i have been employed at my job for 7 months never recevied a hand book until one month ago now they are teling me there is a point system and im at 8 which 4 mor ei get fired. i wasnt aware of this until 1 month ago and they refuse to take off points prior to telling me about the system. can i quit and colect un employment
Can I return to collecting unemployment benefits if I quit a new job?
By: York30 | 28-09-2008
I have a valid claim on file with the labor board, and have collected unemployment benefits for the past month. I found another job last week, and after the past two weeks I feel like this new job is all wrong for me, and not what I signed up for. The pay, hours, and job functions are not what I was looking to do. Can I quit this new job, and return to collecting unemployment insurance?
If I quit my job because they are constantly ...
By: stressed | 26-09-2008
If I quit my job because they are constantly picking on me causing me to be depressed and stressed, do you think i can collect unemployement. Right now they are are trying to finds ways to fire me. My supervisor is asking other employees personal question about me, im not allowed to call in with be ritiqueled by management why i cant come to work, even if i have the time to take off. i feel like im being singled out.
Q&A Powered by: 
Latest Self Help Articles
Packrat Syndrome: Do You or Someone You Love Have Any of These Symptoms?
By: Joesph Merton | 16/11/2008
Are you wondering if you or someone you know is a packrat? Read this article and find out.
Find Happiness Helping Others
By: Doug Hart | 16/11/2008
We must think beyond ourselves in order to find true happiness – how can we help others in big way? There are many organizations that make it really easy to help people, here are a few. Join me in giving to others and it will help you to find true happiness, I promise!
Law of Abundance - Keep it Simple and Prosper
By: Timothy Aaron Whiston | 16/11/2008
The law of abundance is a simple concept to grasp and use. And this article will help you live a more abundant, prosperous life in every way.
Use the Law of Attraction in 3 Easy Steps!
By: Timothy Aaron Whiston | 16/11/2008
Start using the law of attraction right now with these three simple steps. Easily bring more success and happiness into your life starting right away. Use The Law Of Attraction - Step 1. Step one to using the law of attraction is to get as happy as possible right here, and right now.
Combining EFT With Other Healing Processes
By: StewartRobertson | 15/11/2008
One of EFT's most useful aspects is its flexibility in working with other energy treatments.
Many clinicians' efforts are to focus their attention on the problem while balancing or remove an obstruction to the body's energy system. This influences them to combine EFT with other procedures. Other kinds of healing bring...
Clinical Hypnosis
By: Daniel Galant | 15/11/2008
Clinical Hypnosis is a procedure in which an individual is taught to enter a state of heightened focus, relaxation and suggestibility. This hypnotic trance state becomes the basis for alleviating or resolving medical and psychological symptoms, as well as enhancing performance and creativity. However, for many people hypnosis conjures up...
EFT Advantages
By: StewartRobertson | 14/11/2008
If you are looking for some medical treatment and you found out that those medical cures were just so expensive that you cannot really afford it, the result would be finding an alternative remedy or treatment for the sickness.
Not every one of us has the strength to survive a tragic...
Achieving Goals in Five Steps
By: Leslie Allan | 14/11/2008
We all want that sense of achievement that comes with reaching our goals. Whether we are working for ourselves or working within a larger organization, we get a deep sense of satisfaction when we accomplish what we set out to do. Some people seem to achieve their objectives without much...
More from Richard Lefever
The Myth Of Terminal Curiosity And Cats
By: Richard Lefever | 09/05/2007 | Self Help
Curiosity killed that cat? I think they got it wrong. We've been laboring under the stifling, perhaps even deadly, weight of a botched adage. The 'osity' responsible for the feline fatality had to be of a 'serious' not a 'curious' nature. The suffix "osis" according to my New American Webster...
Paddle Fabrication On The Brown And Stinky Creek!
By: Richard Lefever | 01/05/2007 | Self Help
We've all been there. Nothing in our sights but nasty threats, impatiently waiting challenges, bad smelling dooms, and impossibly ugly situations. I am referring to the feeling of helplessly sailing into a paralyzing cacophony of menacing boogie-men and purple meanies just ready to pounce. There is a colloquial phrase for...
Piggy Bank Stress Of Smoking
By: Richard Lefever | 30/04/2007 | Self Help
As a hypnotherapist specializing in a proprietary Smoke Cessation program, I field a lot of questions regarding "How much do you cost?" and "Why are you so expensive?" It amazes me how focused smokers can be on the cost of quitting, without considering the cost of smoking. Yesterday I received...
Will You Be A Kirk, Crunch, Or Kangaroo?
By: Richard Lefever | 28/04/2007 | Self Help
Have you ever noticed that life frequently serves, usually when we are least prepared, opportunities to make life-altering choices. Do I stay at this dead -end, but secure job, or take a chance with a new risky opportunity? Do I step out into a new relationship, or cling to the...
Cooling Off In The Shadow Of Doubt!
By: Richard Lefever | 25/04/2007 | Self Help
Cooling off in the shadow of doubt!
Can I? Will I be able too? What if I fail? You have the training, skills, and knowledge necessary to accomplish a task or conquer a challenge, but a doubt or a fear of failure keeps you from moving toward...
Making Yourself, And Others, Feel Good With Your Tongue!
By: Richard Lefever | 22/04/2007 | Self Help
How to Make Yourself, and Others, Feel Good With your Tongue!
We are blessed with a marvelous and mighty device that can, in moments, stir the best feelings, or the worst, in ourselves and in those around us. That device is, of course, our tongue. I am referring specifically to our...
Drop The Mirror, And Grab The Steering Wheel!
By: Richard Lefever | 22/04/2007 | Self Help
Imagine your life is like a road trip. You've packed, you have your bottled water and snacks handy, you've consulted the map and, after much deliberation, you've picked your desired destination. You turn up the radio, and off you go. Minute, hours, days, and years go by. Soon,...
Learn To Fail To "fail"!
By: Richard Lefever | 21/04/2007 | Self Help
We are all very good at making ourselves feel bad. We come by the habit honestly. Think back to learning to spell in grammar school. Our tests come back from the teacher with the errors marked with red checks. A quick review of our formative years probably shows much more...
|
|
Self Improvement 
