I am writing a series of 101 small changes that we can make to our life quality better and build and lead more happier life that is in attune with our heart and mind. If you have not read previous posts, check it out my previous post101 changes: Change 4- Plant something and other 101 changes articles so far.
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A smile is a curve that sets everything straight. ~Phyllis Diller
The world always looks brighter from behind a smile. ~Author Unknown
When was the last time you smiled as you were waking up in the morning? I am sure if there any, there a far and few in between them.At least it was like that for me not too long ago, I woke up grouchy with weight of world on my shoulder every day.
I know this very well, even now as when I wake up, I am still sleepy and woken by either my 1 year old or preschooler, smile is last thing on my mind. Many times, I want to sleep still 10 more minutes or remember how much work I have to do today and other never ending to-do list of things to do today.
However, whenever I see both of kids wake up from either nap or morning, I see smiles on their face just seeing me. It just warms you up seeing that natural and beautiful smile on kids. Little P has weak lung so he is often sick, still whenever he sees us, when we pick him up, he flashes beautiful smiles to us, nurses and doctors and strangers. R who is 5 now was cheery baby and people used to ask ” does he anything else but to smile?”. No, it is not that my kids that are like that. Almost all small kids I know are naturally smiling when you play with them, or talk to them.
It is easier for most kids and some adults to smile. Zenguy as a adult is cheery and says good morning with smile to me and kids. Even when he is sleepy or tired, he makes a effort to smile and brings energy in people. Zenguy is naturally positive person, while I have to work hard at being positive and smile. One day I decided that I am going to fake a smile in the morning, until it becomes natural. So next morning I tried, it was tough as I was so sleepy still, but I smiled at my kids, kissed them, and said hello to Zenguy. Kids were happy and Zenguy was positively surprised and happy to see me smiling.
We often have lazy laid back morning, where we wake up without alarm and spend 10-15 minutes on bed before waking up as I wrote about it in past hereLaid back morning . However, waking up smiling took some work on part and I still forget it on a few days but I try my best to smile, it makes people around me smile and happy, and it starts off my day on right foot.
When you choose to smile and happy on your start of the day, I believe, you will attract positive things on your day. And if you woke up grumpy and angry, you might attract negative energy and may find more things on course of the day, that will make you feel more of negative. So, why not start your day off right by happy and smiling thoughts.
Even if when wake up, you are alone, take a few minutes to remember good things in your life, or funny thing that happened yesterday and smile. It may feel like you are faking it and forcing smile out, I know I have been there. But believe me, if you continue to smile it will become real, natural and coming from your heart. It will not matter, if you wake up with spouse, your pets, or alone, you can take time to smile and feel gratitude.
That smile will send a signal to world around you, how your day will be and there will be positive energy that will fill you with joy and gratitude will be real. So make one change, smile at least one minute when you wake up. You forgot? No problem, smile 1 minute during any time of the day and go out and conquer you day. It is up to you to make your day happy or not, why not choose to smile and have a happier day!
Smile may not change many worries and problems in our lives but it can sure make it easier to go through with it.
So go ahead and smile when you wake up, even when you have world’s weight on your shoulder and see life smile around you.
Zengirl
101 changes: Change 1- Reduce Drinking Soda
101 changes: Change 2: Getting to email Zen
101 changes: Change 3: Slow down- Slow blogging movement
101 changes: Change 4 – Plant something
101 changes: Change 5 – Smile when you wake up
101 changes: Change 6:: Read a book – Benefits of reading
101 changes: Change 7 – Watch less Television and Be more productive
101 changes: Change 8 – Stretch your comfort zone
101 changes: Change 9: Drink to your health- Benefits of Drinking Tea
101 changes: Change 10: Bring out the artist in You AKA be creative
Hi Zengirl,
I actually smile when I’m on the phone with people. I also try to remember to smile whenever I look at myself in the mirror (brushing hair, fixing make-up, etc.)
I think if I recall correctly, it has physiological effect on us. I believe smiling releases endorphins or something like it that actually helps lift our mood.
Thank you for this great post.
.-= Angela Artemis´s last blog ..Is There a Difference Between Intuition, Psychism and Mediumship? =-.
I need to try and do this. I often wake up still tired and grumpy. I am not a morning person. I will try to plaster a smile on my face until it feels natural ;)!
.-= Betsy Bargain´s last blog ..Take Me To Your Loss Leader =-.
Angela,
I think it is wonderful that you smile on phone. It has been said that if you smile on phone, other person can feel the vibe, even if he can not see it. I have smiled often on phone and effect has been positive.
You are so right about endorphins release and mood lifting connection. Thank you for your thoughtful comment as always.
Betsy,
I am not usually morning person either, and I mostly wake up grumpy too but I am trying and it changes whole day for positive. Try it and let me know how did it go for you. I am sure it will work for you as well.
I’m smiling just reading this and picturing your little tykes smiling as they wake. Nothing like that unconditional, pure child smile that just comes naturally. In yoga class, our instructor tells us to smile periodically. It automatically releases tension in other parts of the body. Amazing how a smile can radiate outwardly and inwardly. Lovely post and great idea to offer 101 simple changes to add to our daily lives. I’m a big fan and shall smile more today because I started my day with this post.
.-= Katie´s last blog ..Taking Stock and Letting Go: Week 4 of the 7-Week Life Cleanse =-.
This is a great reminder. It is amazing how quickly and easily we can fall into a pattern of awakening to a Self that has us dreading yet another day. We all have the capacity to create a Self that we enjoy waking up to — as you said we did it quite naturally as children. I hold myself accountable for waking up to the Self I want expressing through me. When we cease identifying with the mechanical Selves that show up, we create space to experience expressions of our unique entirety.
.-= rob white´s last blog ..What’s Right with You? =-.
Hi Zengirl
What’s the old saying?
Start every day with a smile… and get it over with.
Not always easy to start the day with a smile but it’s worth trying.
I feed my cats in the morning and they always bring a smile to my face.
.-= Keith Davis´s last blog ..Laugh and the world… =-.
Katie,
I think your yoga teacher is wise to mention to smile often. All kids are natural at smiling unconditionally, somewhere along as we grow up (specially me), we have to work hard.
I had to remind myself to smile this morning, but once I do, things improve for me. I am happy and smile with you and others today. Just because I am alive and well.
Rob,
I am learning so much from my 1 year old and preschooler, such how to smile often, naturally, trust every living thing and so on. I am constant worrier, so small thing is smile is huge work for me, specially with teething baby, sleep deprivation is worse. I am working on it and most days I actually remember to smile myself 🙂
I loved your last post and positivity message of what is right with you. Thanks again for your comment.
Keith,
Waking up with kids, pets are wonderful, as they give unconditional love. I have 2 little ones, my brother has a dog, and he loves waking up with her. I think if you smile, not only you but your pet will feel the joy and energy surrounded by it. Let me know, how it goes for you.
My son is an early riser so most morning’s he wakes me up. I can’t help but smile at seeing him first thing in the morning. It’s a little harder getting going as he’s all set for play while i’m still in mid-stretch.
My goodness….shame on us if kids can do it so easily and we know how good it is but still find it hard to do. Ok I will smile, silly as it mayseem and to darkness and to no one, I will smile every day when my alarm goes off, be it 4:30 or 6am, the only two alarms, depending on when I hit the sack and when I succeed after a week, I’ll be thinking of you Zengirl, thank you!!! (with a big smile)!
It’s my first visit here, and I’m glad I’ve found your blog! I love the sound of your laid back mornings. The day will meet us soon enough, so why not relax a bit and smile?
.-= Jean Sarauer´s last blog ..Confessions of a Backsliding Blogger =-.
Belinda,
I hear you, my preschooler is ready to play as he is awake while it takes me time to fully be awake. Kids have so much energy, it amazes me always. I am glad you smile first thing in morning too.
Farnoosh,
Oh my, do you wake up 4.30AM? Wow, I feel like I am getting awake at odd times with my teething 1 year old. It may sound corny to smile when there is dark and no one to show it, I suppose it can work miracle. I hope you are thinking of me and smile and get to wake up much later than 4.30AM 🙂
Jean,
I am glad to see you here. Day and work will be there always, I am working on to relax lot more and smile more often, thanks to my kids and zenguy. 🙂 Otherwise, I can be type A personality!! and worrier.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting here.
Hi ZG.
Smiling at the time of waking is a great way to remember what the opportunity we have is like. When you smile in the morning, you get energized.
I’m pretty sure I don’t normally do this after I wake up.
The more we model after kids, the better we do. They are like the smart version of us.
.-= Armen Shirvanian´s last blog ..You And Your Response To Competition =-.
Yes 4:30am if I am in bed no later than 10:30am. My sleep cycle ends right at 4:30 (I tested it even with a fancy iPhone app ;))! so might as well wake up (but I nap in the afternoon sometimes if I do that)….I smiled this morning and it worked just fine. You are on to something, darlin, so keep spreading the message!
It is funny that we need to learn how to smile again when it used to be so natural to us as children. Our kids can teach us so much!! Good job in making an effort to light up the world! More of us needs to smile often!! Have a Happy Smiley Weekend!
It’s really hard to smile on a gloomy day. But the smile of the people you treasure is highly influential, like the smile of my little son. This never fails to put a sunny smile on my face. 🙂
.-= Walter´s last blog ..5 lies you should never fall for =-.
Farnoosh,
Wow, waking up at 4.30 AM naturally with your sleep cycle is neat! Taking naps in afternoon are so nice, I am surprise more people do not do it. In Asia, lot of people nap in afternoon. I used to take nap with my kid once in a while and I was so refreshed and rested.
Thanks for kind words. I will try my best to share what worked for me.
Armen,
Thanks for stopping by and your comment here.
I sure did not wake with a smile for long time as I was/am worrier. Kids are natural at everything and have priorities that more aligned with people and nature much more so. I am learning a lot from mine and other kids to smile and enjoy more.
Evelyn,
Yes, we can all use smiles around. I am surprised why we/I stopped that I have to make an effort to smile. I think as we grow, we forget lot of simple things that as a kids we enjoyed.
I sure had a happy smiley weekends and I tried to smile and world smiled with me. I hope you had great smiley weekend too.
Walter,
It is true, smile from your loved ones, specially kids can do wonder, it is almost like a miracle for many. I can imagine, your son can put smile on your face with his smile or simple gesture he does.
I wish with practice smile and positivity will be natural to me as once was as a child.
I think smiling is fantastic. When I’m having a great day, a smile just makes it even better. When I’m struggling, I try to make a conscious effort to square my shoulders, and smile – because that never fails to make the day a bit brighter. Plus, I love it when my kids smile, which is pretty much all the time. It makes my heart sing!
.-= Claire – Gratitude Connection´s last blog ..Today I’m grateful for… =-.
Zengirl, what a fantastic series! And that suggestion made me smile rightaway. I am going to try smiling the moment I wake up tomorrow, even if all I want to do is go back to sleep.:) Very inspiring.
.-= Vaishali´s last blog ..Mojo de Ajo =-.
What a wonderful and yet simple suggestion.
I have started practicing this with my wife, and for two days now we smile at each other when we wake up. The end result, we seem to have a better day and make a sincere and truthful effort to smile whenever we can.
I think this is one thing that should spread like wild fire!
ZenGirl: What a great post. I couldn’t agree more that starting your day off right is key and when you do so with a smile, you set yourself up to have a great day. I believe your perceptions impact all of your experiences and anything you encounter throughout the day. When you really can start your day off right and feel genuinely like smiling, it sets all the right balls in motion. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Claire,
I agree with you, smile seems to make everything better even when you are down. Kids smiles are amazing, aren’t they?
In street, grocery store, I see kids and they smile at me and I smile back at them. It is such a natural and positive thing that cheers me up. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Vaishali,
Thank you. I know I always feel like sleeping 10 more minutes no matter when I get at 3 am, or 6 am or even 9 am sometimes 🙂 but smiling helps me start my day off in right feet and I believe make my days goes better. It is secret to tell the world, I am going to enjoy today and so it happens. Let me know how it goes for you.
Kamal,
What a wonderful plan. I am sure your wife and you smiling at each other just brightens the day.
It is funny that as a kids we might have all smiled but as we got older, we got more responsibilities and worries and few of us like me forgot to smile naturally. Starting off day right with smile is great for me, even though I do forget sometimes but I do try. Thanks for stopping by.
You were thinking about starting a blog earlier, have you done it?
Sibyl,
Thank you for stopping by and your first comment. I agree smiles makes it whole day and tells to world that I am going to enjoy and be happy today and it happens generally. Alas, it took my kids and Zenguy to reform me as I am such a worrier personality, a work in progress. 🙂
Thanks for sharing your thoughtful thoughts here.
Great tip!
It’s good that zenguy balances your morning energy(o:
I agree with this post. If it is your intention to have a good morning and day, than it begins when you rise. You’re right, everyone has something to be happy or thankful for. I’m a natural morning person and optimist but I know people who just HATES mornings. Once you tell yourself that you hate mornings, you will continue to do so. Change your thoughts, change your actions!
– Ali
.-= S. Ali Myers – Soulful Body & Mind´s last blog ..What Has Your Doctor Taught You? =-.
S. Ali,
Yes, without Zenguy’s positivity, I will be still getting up grouchy with world’s problems on my shoulder (or so I would think). He keeps me in check.
I am normally night person so morning I do not hate but hard for me. I have changed my attitude and tell world I am ready to have good day today and usually it happens! I like what you said, change you thoughts and change your action, things will change for better.
Hi,
came across ur blog recently.. just a few days back..
very nice blog… i liked reading ur blogs..
keep writing…
Indian Thoughts,
Thanks for liking it here on heart and mind and commenting here. I enjoy my writing here too, thanks for visiting.