Just Smile
Author: Byron Pulsifer, ©2017
Is it only just a smile, or does it mean more than that? To just smile may seem contrived or unmeaning but this is not always the case. Do you know why?
Just Smile May Mean Little
What value do you place on receiving a smile from a friend? What does it mean to receive a smile from a total stranger as you walk along the street? Does it mean more or does it mean less?
Some people may hold the position that a fake or unmeanging smile is not worth anything. In this manner, to get just a smile with little or no enthusiasm is the same as not getting a smile at all. To these people, they would rather not be the recipient of a fake smile but would rather feel just at ease if they were totally ignored. In fact, some people would probably go so far as to say that the receiving of a less than genuine smile is an insult to their self-worth.
Just Smile Means Worth As A Human Being
To others, however, even a little smile goes a long way? Why is this?
For these people, a smile, even a less than warm smile, may mean that they have been recognized as a human being and not to remain as a mere lump of flesh on the sidewalk or road. Is this really true? Is this what some people actually think or believe?
Just think for a moment if you were a homeless person or a street beggar. You may have seen many of these types of people before especially if you walk in a downtown area on your way to work or as you go shopping. Do you simply pass them by without even looking at them or even acknowledging that they exist? Or, do you do as some people do and cross to the other side of the street so that you don’t even have to look at them or be near them? If you do, your behavior reflects a lot of other peoples’ action. What does this say about you? What does this mean to the street beggar or the homeless person?
What it may say about you and many others is that you have demonstrated by your behavior that you see no worth in a street beggar or the homeless person. Why do I say this? The reason is that by ignoring them, or by crossing to the other side of the street to avoid them, you have given them no recognition as a human being. The act of ignoring these people says that they have no value as a human being. Can you imagine how they feel when this happens? What if, just what if you were in a similar circumstance through no fault of your own? What if you lost everything you own? What if you had no one to turn to for help, no friends or family to help you out?
A smile is an acknowledgement that they have self-worth; that they are a fellow human being. The act of smiling at them shows them that they are recognized as a person not as a piece of garbage to be avoided..
A Great Way To Start
Let’s turn our attention to you as you start your day. A smile is just that little thing you may need to help brighten your day and put a little bounce in your step. The smile you receive can be one of the best ways to start your day.
For years, I worked in several organizations and one behavior I always did in arriving at work was comprised of two things at the same time. The first was to say good morning and the next was to smile as I said it. By the time I got to my work area, I had smiled to over twelve people. Now, I admit, there were a lot of mornings when I really didn’t feel like smiling or even to say hello. But, I did anyway and the interesting result was that by the time I reached my work area, I felt better.
It is amazing what a smile can do. Did you know that to smile takes less facial muscles than to frown? Well, it’s a fact.
And, do not think for a minute that smiling is only necessary at work with your colleagues.
If you are in a customer service role, your smile makes people a lot more amenable to work with you and you will certainly find a lot fewer people who will take their frustration out on you.
A Smile Can Be Felt
And, even more important believe it or not is to actually smile if your work is all on the phone. It is a fact that people can feel your smile over the phone. That is why telemarketers that are really trained well always smile when they phone – it works.
A smile also works wonders with your own family. A smile given to each child or spouse when you see them no matter where or when will communicate you are open and welcoming.
What value do you put on a smile? If you value receiving a smile just think about the benefits to another who needs your smile too.
Smile Back
Smiling can be infectious in a work place to help reduce stress, to help teamwork, to defuse high-pressure situations. The more you smile, the more people will smile back. Just think about how many times you may have subconsciously avoided a person who appears to be sullen or grumpy? The natural path in life is to be attracted to those who exude warmth, compassion, inspiration, friendliness. Do you gravitate to the least welcoming or warm person at a party of gathering? I’m sure you don’t. In the same way, people will extend warmth and friendliness when you extend the same. And, please do not forget about negative body language as a form of unfriendliness. Body language can convey just as much about you or another person’s attitude without a word being exchanged.
A simple gesture yet one with a powerful impact. A smile is the beginning of laughter, and laughter is the feeling of being happy, which we all need every day!
Inspirational Quotes for Reflection:
“Each day brings its own colours to be chosen, mixed, pigments of joy, happy moments, smiles and laughter…. And which will you choose? For ‘Life’ is choice…” John McLeod
“A good laugh is sunshine in the house.” William M. Thackeray
“How stressed and grim we look! Our emotions inexorably flash through the forty-three muscles in our face, and we communicate our feelings through our eyes, our brows, and the set of our mouths. One smile can light up a room; one frown can darken a day.” David Jeremiah
“Extend sympathy, empathy and compassion to others.” Vishnu, Seven Sacred Promises
“Much of our pain or misery in life stems from our own outlook towards the situation. A paralyzed person can also be happy, so can be a financially poor family.” Amit Ahlawat, Seven Ways To Sustained Happiness
“Happy people live longer, but what is there about living longer that can make us happy? We are so indoctrinated to believe the answer is ‘nothing’ that people of all ages laugh at the question. However, with people over fifty, concrete answers to that question begin to spill out in the moment that laugh ceases.” Ariele M. Huff, The Perks of Aging: Blessings, Silver Linings, & Convenient Half-Truths (Kindle Locations 21-24). Unknown. Kindle Edition.
“There is nothing worse than being alone, and when you can have someone in your life that is like you, that actually does love you, you want to keep them as happy as possible.” Cathy Pearson, How To Keep Your Man, And Be His ‘One And Only’
“Smiling makes our brain think we are happy. When our brain thinks we are happy, we tend to smile more.” Rachel Robins, Feel Good About Yourself
“Instead of always working from a place of lack, of fearing that you’re not enough, that you don’t have enough possessions, and that you’ll never be happy unless you get what you want, you can instead give yourself permission to feel blessed now, and to work from a place of joy – a place of already having something inside of you to share with the world.” Andrew Butcher, Stop Wanting, Start Having
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