Saturday, September 30, 2006
SMILE by Dr. RUBY InaNorma Yanez
Published in The Arizona Networking News
Who in life has been spared from experiencing a sense of sorrow, defeat or hopelessness? If by some bend of fate it is you, then this technique may be helpful to a friend or loved one. Please pass it on as a favor.
This exercise will require a mirror. Standing or sitting, relax and take three deep, long breaths. Each time you exhale, gently open your lips so they are slightly parted. Look in the mirror and lift the corners of your mouth upward. There should be no strain, just a gentle upturn of your lips. Reward yourself with a sigh of relief. Get that tension out of your shoulders by merely crunching them up as if to touch your ears. Then exhale slowly while allowing them to gradually and softly drop down to a comfortable position.
Do it again! Use this exercise whenever you are feeling blue. The act of focusing your attention away from the hurt and on to the process of smiling will help to alleviate and alter the mood. By lifting the corners of your mouth, a cellular memory kicks in to remind you of something that really did make you smile. (Or, perhaps even a good hearty laugh). Should laughing be part of this healing technique? Yes!
Laugh because it is the other side of crying. So what if you are alone. In fact, you don’t even have to be. Ask a friend to do this with you, unless solos are your choice. Either way, remember that changing your focus changes your mood.
You are adorable Ruby. Ann
ReplyDeleteI sure needed this Dr. Yanez. Thank you. anon
ReplyDeleteYou write beautifully. Santo in PR
ReplyDeleteWhat can one do when the weight of the world comes crashing down? anon
ReplyDeletePRAY! Do good for others. More PRAYER!
DeleteVery good reminder! DD in AZ
ReplyDeleteGreat writing. Sadly, we just lost two immediate members in our family and smiling is not physically happening for me yet.
ReplyDeleteBut with the passage of enough time, I will smile again.
BH in MD
Sounds very much like "biofeedback". My family learned Trancendental Meditation many years ago and I still use it to relax. It generally lowers my blood pressure about 15-20 points, and after a twenty-minute session, I am quite refreshed.
ReplyDeleteWhat you have described, RubyNorma, is an excellent way to reduce stress and rejuvenate energy. Thank you!
jim
Smiling is nutritious for the soul! FG Canada
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for that.
ReplyDeleteI bet many will find it very useful. N in OZ
I tried your advice. I am too depressed for it to work. I will try again next week. anon
ReplyDelete