Listen to this week’s message:
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As Saint Teresa of Calcutta, or Mother Teresa, said, “Peace begins with a smile.”
How often do you smile? It takes 43 muscles to frown but only 17 to smile. Babies even smile in the womb. Many people try to accumulate frequent flier points but perhaps we should be trying to increase our “frequent smiler” miles. Our smile percentage seems to go down as we grow up. More than 30% of adults smile more than 20 times a day and less than 14% of us smile less than 5 times a day. Yet, children smile as much as 400 times a day. So, increase your “smileage.” Regardless of culture, a smile communicates connection. Studies have shown that smiling is contagious. People tend to mimic the expressions of others and socially transfer emotion. One study showed that receiving a smile from a friend or relative generates much higher levels of stimulation to the brain and the heart than being given money, and that seeing a child’s smile is equivalent to eating 2,000 chocolate bars or about $21,000. Following the instructions of Saint Teresa of Calcutta, “Smile five times a day at someone you really don’t want to smile at; do it for peace.” Sharing a smile is one really simple thing we each can do to change the world.
Until next time, remember-it’s your divine life, live it to the fullest. The power is in your hands!
With Purpose & Power,
Terri
Contributed by Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy.
Image: photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
