Inner Smile Practice

Sometimes the most powerful things are also the simplest.

We love the BIG moments and experiences. We get that. Same here.

AND we’ve learned that there is power in subtlety, in small shifts that are way bigger than what they seem.

Today we’re reminding ourselves of the radiance that we can create with the Inner Smile.

Scientifically, it has also been proven that small physical shifts, like a gentle smile, can absolutely change how you feel.

Gently evoking warmth, friendliness, or subtle JOY in the body can shift your entire state of consciousness.

Your nervous system listens to what you practice in your body. So a smile on your face becomes real in the heart and signals your nervous system to relax and to soften.

So simple, so easy, so accessible!

Multiple traditions have a practice that refers to this…

TAOISM teaches smiling inwardly to the organs, especially the heart, then to extend that warmth to the body.

BUDDHISM encourages a ‘soft smile’ at the lips or in the heart space to support the feeling of the practice.

SUFISM speaks of a ‘smiling heart’ or a softening that naturally arises as devotion deepens.

It’s not just about visualization. It’s about generating a felt sense of appreciation and letting it circulate through your body as energy.

How to do this?

✨ Sit upright with your spine straight, or lying down.
✨ Take a deep gentle breath in and exhale gently.
✨ As you allow your body to soften imagine smiling inwards to your heart, your liver, your stomach…whatever organs come up to be blessed by your smile!
✨ Do this for a few breaths.
✨ Let your lips turn up into a gentle smile, not forced, just mirroring that inner smile.
✨ Allow the smile to feel like a warm and sweet appreciation or gratitude for your Self, for your Body

Relax and smile. Inside and out. 
Simple as that. Gentle as that.

The beauty of this is that you can do it anywhere, anytime. Not weird, not loud. 

Plus, it will give you ‘smiling resting face’ which is much friendlier than some ‘other’ resting faces. lol!

Let us know how this practice feels for you. 🙏