Smile

In studying human psychology, I learned that most of our communication is not in what we say or hear, but rather visual recognition. Someone approaches us we look at their face and if we allow influence our own mood and emotions. That's important to keep tucked in our back pocket.

A Lot of times, I am either thinking or meditating on an object, which is holding my attention pretty tightly. It could be thinking about a family member, a challenge that a friend is having, computer code, a design problem, a koan or phrase. The net result of this is my mind and body are sometimes in two different places. My body is present, my Mind is not. When I'm in two different locations, I may not be mindful the way I would really want to be with people. I may not be having the kind of interaction that I'm okay with.

When I am in environments where people are, I've been striving to get out of my head, smile and be in the present moment. This process is teaching me to notice others [much more clearly]. When I'm going into the book store to grab a coffee, I may hold the door for someone, look them in the eyes and smile. When I'm paying for the coffee, I make an effort to say thank you and smile. When I am walking past people at work or sitting with my family at home, I make an effort to smile and show kindness.

In those interactions like at the book store, someone may look blank, sad or even angry but when they encounter the smile, it's like they wake up for a moment and smile back. It was like they received and then gave back an emotional nudge. It's a pleasant feeling.

In the process of learning to share a smile with people, I have found that it is difficult, if not impossible for me to feel blank, sad, lonely or angry. If your smiling, those emotions just don't work. I suppose the reason is that the thought which gets triggered in my own mind is "Happiness." It's nice to know that all I have to do to get into that lighter state is smile.

Happiness,

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO