When I was a kid, I used to love being clicked for photographs. That was the only time that gave me opportunity to smile and laugh heartily. But, now I have become camera conscious. Thoughts of how will I look, will my photo be a good one, what will people think about me and many such thoughts race in my mind. I get stressed out and finally my picture goes into the dust-bin. Huh….smiling is a tough job for grown ups like us, right? Indeed great was the childhood where we needed no reason to chuckle and giggle. But now, life’s stressors, pressures, frustrations, anxieties, etc have in a way stitched our mouths shut. Even a simple task like smiling becomes a Herculean work to accomplish.

Do you know why this happens? I mean why do we get transformed from smiling “Laughing Buddhas” to “A Grumpy Looking Person”? I know some of you will say it’s because of so much pain and struggles we have to go through in our lives. Some of you will even say that life has stolen away your reason to smile. I agree. These are normally responses of everyone in this weary-dreary world. However, do you know there is still a way out and there is a way to fill your life with the sweetness of smiles yet again?

The answer lies within us. We have to go through the phase which we have already covered…i.e our childhood. Yes folks! The way children think, resolve issues, develop personality-problem solving skills-values have greater clues in which we can deal with our day to day problems and snatch our smiles back. Have you seen a child trying to crawl or stand up? Have you seen a child struggling hard to start walking, stack playing cups or learning new verbal skills? Can you decipher what power pushes children to accomplish tasks no matter how easy or difficult they are? Let me tell you:

The power that makes children so different and unique than adults is the power of genuineness. Innocence, purity, positivity, determination, dedication, perseverance, discipline, interest and incessant trying are some of the sterling qualities of children that keep them away from all negativities of life and accomplish their goals. While walking through the ups and downs of life we compromise with our purity, innocence and positivity isn’t it? Can you remember how many times you failed in something and gave up just because of the fact that it was very difficult and beyond your reach? Look around your inner self and outer self. Can you bet and say that it is not in a mess? So did you get the answer as to why our capacity to smile is gradually fading off?

The answer is quite obvious. I have chalked out a checklist for the answers. Just check it out below:

  • We over-expect and generalize things
  • We get anxious about most of the things and often dwindle in negative thinking
  • When something goes wrong we easily lose our patience and react negatively
  • When we fail in something we resort to numerous defenses for consoling our ego rather than accepting the failure.
  • If something goes wrong we point it towards others rather than holding ourselves accountable for it.
  • We give up so easily.
  • When situations become unfavorable we do not step back in telling lies or becoming dishonest.

Like these many happenings around us just sweep us away from our ideals and values. And the more we get swept away from our ideal selves, the more our problems increase and the more we frown. They strike us like vicious circles one after the other. For example: If you tell lies that you got an A grade in Maths, when the Maths Paper is given to you for your parents’ signature, either you will have to do it by yourself or tell more lies to your parents. The cycle goes on and on one after the other. I am not saying that honesty, patience, perseverance, determination will make things easy. But, I can bet that it will resolve many things. These qualities will help you get refined to the core of your entities. These values may seem difficult to follow. However, if followed they will land you in a wonderful plane of happiness, moral values, success, health and overall well-being.

The next time you get tied up in the shackles of pain, stress, frustrations and negativities….don’t react. Just stop for some time, take a deep breathe and SMILE. It may not change the situation but it will change your mood to change the situation. Do not think like a stubborn adult. Instead think like a curious child, chuckle when you fall down and celebrate when you accomplish something. Hold on to your positive values even in the stormy nights of life. Your values may not bring instant happiness but will surely give you the courage to colour your own sunshine in your life.

Life is just for one, with so many possibilities. If you fill it with negativities and hopelessness you can never see the golden opportunities in front of you. So the first step to see an opportunity and work on it is to SMILE. If you have read this post and still you are not smiling, then one tip: Stand in front of the mirror and make your face grumpy/angry/irritable – you will be the first person to roll on the floor laughing by seeing how bad you look with that frown on your face!

Best Wishes,

Sareeta