Smiling eyes :)

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Smile more :)

I looked in the mirror this morning with my mask on. I wanted to see if people could tell if I was smiling behind my mask.

A smile is like a little dose of kindness. And yet these masks put a dent in our ability to connect with others, at a time when we need connection more than ever.

The good news? All those lines around my eyes crinkled up enough (oh the beauty of aging) to let others know that I really am smiling at them underneath my mask.

We all know the stats on loneliness and the importance of connection. Yes, we are busy, but let’s not be too busy to give a big smile (aka crinkly eyes) and a big hello to everyone we come into contact with or walk by on the street.

Even better, be the first to smile. Don’t wait for the other person to “go first”.

Laugh lots

It’s true… laughter is medicine. It decreases cortisol levels, forms social bonds, releases endorphins (our feel good chemicals), protects our heart, and acts as an antidepressant.

There is even a study on the positive impact of Laughter Yoga (yes, you read that correctly) on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and how laughter helps reduce anxiety levels in people suffering from IBS.

I’ll be honest… just watching two minutes of a clip of people following Dr. Madan Kataria, the founder of the Laughter Yoga movement, in a round of laughing yoga (not sure where the yoga fits in) made me giggle.

There is even a five-minute TEDx laughter yoga segment by Liliana DeLeo, founder and president of Living Laughter. She says that our body can’t differentiate between fake laughter and real laughter, but if we start off with fake laughter, our body and emotions eventually follow suit.

It reminded me of a photographer years ago who I had hired to take pictures of me for my website. She wanted to get photos of me laughing, and told me to… just start laughing. It felt completely weird at first, but it eventually turned into a real laugh, and after each “laughter session” for the various shots, there was no question that I felt better… lighter and happier.

Many of us would benefit from laughing more – myself included. Watch a funny movie or a comedy series, surround yourself (at a distance!) with people who make you laugh, or experiment with laughter yoga. You will notice a difference - I promise.

Be thankful

We have so much to be thankful for. Many people keep gratitude journals, others do gratitude meditations. It’s a very personal practice. I have tried but struggled with both the journaling and the gratitude meditations, but found something recently that really resonates with me.

It’s called Gratitude Breathing and it’s very simple. There are a few versions - this is mine. You can do whatever works for you:

  • Put your hands on your heart and close your eyes

  • Bring your awareness to something/someone you are grateful for

  • Deeply breathe in the gratitude, and hold your breath for 5-10 seconds

  • While holding your breath, let that positive feeling flow throughout your body

  • Then slowly exhale your gratitude out… out into the world.

And on that note, wishing you all a holiday full of smiles, laughter and gratitude.

Stay healthy.

gillian xx
gillian@gbwellness.ca