What Makes You Smile?

A grin. A smirk. A hearty laugh. A smile. Sometimes, it’s the simplest things in life that are the most important and it is from these little things that we can derive the greatest happiness.

They say that the mind can dictate what the body does, but the reverse also appears to be true. It’s been said that even if you don’t feel like doing it, you should smile more often. By smiling, you send certain feedback to the brain and you are more likely to feel happy. I don’t know how much credence we can give to that science, but there’s no harm in trying. When you smile, the world smiles back at you.

Yes, life can be challenging. You may be facing some financial hardships due to the current economic climate. Perhaps you had an unfortunate fight with a significant other and you’re feeling down in the dumps. That’s a part of life and, if it were not for these challenges, we may be able to best appreciate all the good that we do have in our lives.

If all you do is chase happiness, it’s quite possible that you’ll find yourself in a worse position than when you started and your life may start to feel empty by comparison. It’s about balance. You have to balance achievement, vocational success, family life, social interaction, societal needs, and so much more.

So, going back to the title of today’s post, what makes me smile? I can’t help but smile when I take in a good story, whether it be in a book, in a TV show, or in a movie. I smile when I’m enjoying good times with my friends and my family. I smile when I recognize a recent achievement. And I sometimes smile when I open up an unexpected box from the courier, thanks largely to my work as a freelance writer. I may not be able to keep the contents, but it’s almost like Christmas morning over and over again.

Life is hard. That’s a fact. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t take the time to smile. What makes you smile?