Tools to change your mood

"Smile, it's free therapy."

Douglas Horton

I love tools that are free, always available, fast-acting, and life-transforming. One of these is simply: Smile!

Smiling activates circuits in your body that release endorphins, dopamine and other chemicals that generate well-being, and can counteract physical and emotional pain.

Smiling reduces stress, anxiety and blood pressure.

By smiling you strengthen your immune system.

Smiling increases your creativity and the effectiveness with which your brain works.

By smiling you transmit positive energy to others and generate a chain of well-being. A chain of smiles. You never know whose day you can change with a simple smile. Smiling is contagious.

It is incredible how a small change in our body, such as smiling, generates changes on an emotional level and in how we feel when faced with a situation.

I propose an exercise.

Think of something that makes you angry, that stresses you out. Live the memory. Feel that discomfort throughout your body.

Rate your discomfort level from 0 to 10, with 10 being the maximum.

Now for 1 minute (or as long as you like), SMILE. It can be with the eyes closed, or open. As you like.

Now remember again the situation that caused you discomfort and rate it from 0 to 10. Did the intensity drop? It is very likely that at least it has dropped a little. If you want to lower it further, repeat the exercise. Repeat as many times as necessary.

Smiling can become a positive habit. The more you do it, the more changes you will see in your life. Internally and externally.

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"With your smile you make life more beautiful."

Thich Nhat Hanh

"All people smile in the same language."

Proverb