It is often said that nothing is more attractive than someone who enters the room with a beaming smile.
Welcome to this mindfulness practice where we will reflect upon the quality of joy.
What is joy?
Delight,
Sparkle,
Rapture,
Happiness.
Everyone feels joy at different times and for different reasons.
But what feeling immediately comes to your heart?
Not a thought to your mind,
But a feeling to your heart when this word is mentioned.
Is it a smile from a passerby?
Playfulness of a child?
The laughter emanating from the schoolyard?
Or perhaps your favorite music track?
Or simply the feeling of the sun shining on your back?
These are all external influences.
What about the joy that arises from within?
Have you considered that no matter where you are and what frame of mind you may be,
The joy that is within us at all times is just waiting to be discovered and transported out into our external world.
Yes,
It may be often sabotaged by grief,
Sadness,
Anxiety or anger,
But it is there,
Within us,
Waiting to bring its vital warmth to ourself and to cast its spell on all who cross our path.
And aren't love,
Kindness,
Spirit,
Liveliness,
All states that radiate from us when we are feeling happy?
How do we lose our inherent joy?
Well,
It's quite simple.
We separate from love.
We choose to surround ourselves with negativity,
People or situations.
Become news addicts.
Become engrossed in gossip and we focus upon our own fears or the fears of others and hand over our positive power to negative external sources.
Joyful people manifest joy.
The more joyful we are,
The more attractive we become.
The more attractive we become,
The more we draw other joyful people into our tribe.
It is this dynamism that transforms our lives,
Shifts the world.
Whether you are sitting up or lying down at this very moment,
Just notice how you are feeling.
Be warm and comfortable.
Feel your tension and fatigue fall away from every aspect of your being.
Softly close your eyes.
See,
Think and feel softness as you scan your body and mind.
As you breathe in,
Scan your face,
Eyes,
Jaw and throat for any tension.
Long,
Deep breath out.
As you breathe in,
Scan your shoulders,
Arms,
Hands and fingers.
A long breath out.
With a deep breath in,
Scan your chest,
Heart,
Upper back.
And then release.
Breathing into your solar plexus,
That point between the rib cage and the navel.
And into the area around your middle back and waist.
And exhale slowly.
Breathing in,
Scan your belly,
Your lower back and hips.
And a long breath out.
Another deep breath in and scan the buttocks,
The back of the thighs,
The front of the thighs,
The calves and shins.
Exhale all the stale air out.
And with another deep breath in,
Scan the ankles,
The soles of the feet and the toes.
Imagine all fatigue and strain are releasing through your toes.
And as you lie here,
Taking some long,
Long deep breaths and quietly whisper to yourself.
Breathing in,
I calm my body.
Breathing out,
I smile.
Breathing in,
I calm my body.
Breathing out,
I smile.
Breathing in,
I calm my body.
Breathing out,
I smile.
Breathing in,
I calm my body.
Breathing out,
I smile.
Breathing in,
I calm my body.
Breathing out,
I rest.
Breathing in,
I calm my body.
Breathing out,
I rest.
Breathing in,
I calm my body.
Breathing out,
I rest.
Now bring your attention to your eyebrow center.
Now bring your attention to your heart and notice how you feel.
Now bring your attention to your belly and gently soften your belly.
Consciously let go of any tension you are holding onto.
Rest.
Breathe with ease and notice how your heart is responding.
And remember a smile.
It costs nothing,
But creates much.
It enriches those who receive without impoverishing those who give.
It happens in a flash and the memory of it lasts forever.
None are so rich they can get along without it and none so poor but are richer for its benefits.
It creates happiness in the home,
Fosters goodwill in a business and is the counter sign of friends.
It is rest to the weary,
Daylight to the discouraged.
Sunshine to the sad and nature's best antidote for trouble.
Yet it cannot be bought,
Begged,
Borrowed or stolen.
For it is something that is no earthly good to anybody till it is given away.
If someone is too tired to give you a smile,
Leave one of yours for nobody needs a smile so much as those who have none to give.
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti Om.
Peace,
Peace,
Peace.
