The leadership in our church has asked our youth to do an interesting thing this year- SMILE! They have also asked the youth to pray and read the Book of Mormon for at least 5 minutes daily. These three simple things are supposed to encourage these wonderful young people to "Be thou an example of the believer in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith,and in purity." (1 Timothy 4:12) which is our current theme.
Why ask the youth to smile? A few thoughts ran through my head. It is one way to hold up your candle and not hide it under a bushel. A means to share your testimony of Christ through your countenance. It also makes other people happy. Smiling is contagious. If we truly desire to help and lift our neighbor, the easiest place to start is by smiling at them. One of the girls in class also suggested that one of parents favorite things about having kids is seeing them smile. As a parent, I know this is the case. It brings joy to my heart to see my boys smile.Heavenly Father loves us more than we could ever love our own children and of course wants to see us happy. That's why He gave us the plan of happiness, so that we could enjoy full felicity.
From what I have read and heard about smiling just using the muscles in the face to turn your cheeks upward releases endorphins that aid in creating a positive mood. The opposite is also true, scowling inevitably creates a dark mood even if nothing externally wrong has happened. Interesting case study: Imagine two groups. One group is asked to put a pen between their teeth and make sure their lips can't touch it (producing a smile). The other group is asked to put a pen in their mouth and make sure their teeth DON'T touch it, so that only the lips are holding it (and thus pulling on the face). The two groups are shown a joke. The group that is smiling thinks its a real knee slapper, the other group is not amused.
So do we smile because we are happy, or are we happy because we smile? I would say both, two sides to the same coin. So toss the coin and say cheese!
Really nice post today. Made me smile, and want to keep it pasted on my face. Just what I needed to get up and get going again being a mom. Heard you might be headed this way in March? yeah!!!!!
ReplyDeletewhat a GREAT post! and those boys are SO SO SO SO dang cute!
ReplyDeleteGreat post to read today! Always a little harder to smile when tired...but I'll take the challenge!
ReplyDeleteLove those smiling faces. People love smiling faces, especially if they are having a tough day. It helps them "light up their countenance as well". Good thoughts in your blog.
ReplyDeleteI smile because I'm married to you.
ReplyDelete...and i'm smiling because my smiling brother married you. ;) loved this post today and i would have to agree with you, i think it goes both ways. i LOVE to smile.
ReplyDeleteWe smile because we have the secret!
ReplyDeleteYou express it so well.
Man is that he might have joy.
Joy produces smiles.
You make me smile!!!!!!
mom H