The Chinese have a saying: "When we were born, we cried while all around us laughed. Let us live our lives so that when we leave this world, we can laugh while all around us cry."
When we smile, we stimulate others to extend beyond themselves and to enter a world where they share with others and others share with them. Conversely, when we are angry or fearful, we trigger those states in those around us, encouraging others to be limited and self-concerned.
Paul Ekman, PhD, a pre-eminent psychologist and an expert in facial expressions, has found that smiling on the outside can actually stimulate brain activity associated with happiness. Let’s cultivate a smiling, cheerful attitude.
Life is a wonderful dance, and we can enjoy it more if we learn to tread lightly.