Glow....let your inner light shine unabashedly, without reserve, and let it envelop all others around you.
A while back I realized that I looked like I was scowling most of the time, that it appeared that I did not have a smile upon my face. I believe that it is just genetics, that my face is inherited from my father, and his from his father, and so on. Not wanting everyone to think that I was walking around mad and unhappy, I began to make a conscious effort to smile more, after all I am really a happy person at heart, and fully believe and appreciate how blessed I really am. Now I think that I exhibit the happiness I feel inside through the smile on my face. Sometimes I forget to smile, and may be seen walking around with" a scowl on my face". Usually I am just lost in thought, preoccupied or distracted. but as soon as I encounter another person I smile quickly. I may not speak, but usually will receive a smile in response. Someone told me once how they always enjoyed seeing me, as I always had a smile on my face, and was always in a good mood. They didn't realize that perhaps moments before I may have had troubling thoughts, or might have been thinking about a serious problem. I enjoyed the compliment, of course, but what I really enjoyed was the thought that I encouraged a positive comment, that I had inspired another to smile in response to my smile.
Years later, I began meditating daily, and began to experience the feeling of inner happiness, of being at peace with myself. On one particular day, I was at work, walking at a brisk pace, feeling confident and happy, and was aware that I was smiling without having to make a conscious effort. I felt like I was glowing. At that moment I was absolutely happy. I thought about how the last few people I had spoken to seemed happy also...an almost unusual occurrence in a stress filled workplace, and then thought about how the fact that I was smiling and "glowing" had seemed to influence my friends, and I wondered if my sensation of joy had touched them also. It was almost as if they had let down their defenses for a moment, had forgotten about their current problems or work related issues, and had let their inner light shine through also. My "glow" was joined by theirs, and I really believe that for a moment the energy level around us had increased, that everyone's mood and spirit had brightened. There was a momentary burst of laughter, grins, lighthearted comments and a genuine feeling of camaraderie.
Imagine if all of us could practice smiling more. Imagine the glow.
A while back I realized that I looked like I was scowling most of the time, that it appeared that I did not have a smile upon my face. I believe that it is just genetics, that my face is inherited from my father, and his from his father, and so on. Not wanting everyone to think that I was walking around mad and unhappy, I began to make a conscious effort to smile more, after all I am really a happy person at heart, and fully believe and appreciate how blessed I really am. Now I think that I exhibit the happiness I feel inside through the smile on my face. Sometimes I forget to smile, and may be seen walking around with" a scowl on my face". Usually I am just lost in thought, preoccupied or distracted. but as soon as I encounter another person I smile quickly. I may not speak, but usually will receive a smile in response. Someone told me once how they always enjoyed seeing me, as I always had a smile on my face, and was always in a good mood. They didn't realize that perhaps moments before I may have had troubling thoughts, or might have been thinking about a serious problem. I enjoyed the compliment, of course, but what I really enjoyed was the thought that I encouraged a positive comment, that I had inspired another to smile in response to my smile.
Years later, I began meditating daily, and began to experience the feeling of inner happiness, of being at peace with myself. On one particular day, I was at work, walking at a brisk pace, feeling confident and happy, and was aware that I was smiling without having to make a conscious effort. I felt like I was glowing. At that moment I was absolutely happy. I thought about how the last few people I had spoken to seemed happy also...an almost unusual occurrence in a stress filled workplace, and then thought about how the fact that I was smiling and "glowing" had seemed to influence my friends, and I wondered if my sensation of joy had touched them also. It was almost as if they had let down their defenses for a moment, had forgotten about their current problems or work related issues, and had let their inner light shine through also. My "glow" was joined by theirs, and I really believe that for a moment the energy level around us had increased, that everyone's mood and spirit had brightened. There was a momentary burst of laughter, grins, lighthearted comments and a genuine feeling of camaraderie.
Imagine if all of us could practice smiling more. Imagine the glow.