Pivotal Inspiration

Smiling changes your attitude, raises your confidence, and makes you more attractive.
By Devlyn Steele

        As we rush through our busy days accomplishing our tasks– work, kids, shopping, cleaning, and eating on the go, we often complain that we don’t feel good.  There is a simple and effective way to feel better throughout the day and be more attractive.

All you have to do is smile more. 

        Smiling changes your attitude, whether you realize it or not.  If you have any doubts, the next time you feel down, start smiling and thinking positive thoughts and see what happens. 

    You can’t help but have a better attitude when you smile.

Smiling also raises your confidence.

    Smiling affects our emotions because of a brain-body connection.  It triggers scientifically measurable activity in the left frontal cortex, the area of the brain where happiness is registered.

        In fact, there is science dedicated to the study of facial expressions and responses called FACS – Facial Action Coding System.  Your face has 44 muscles between the skin, cartilage, blood, and bone that you flex and contort.  This lets you make over 5,000 different types of expressions.  That’s a lot of expressions!  Moreover, each will have a different affect on your feelings and those looking at you.

        We instantly become more attractive when we smile.  Admit it, when someone is smiling, aren’t you drawn in?  Don’t you enjoy that person’s company more?  We all do.  Smiling is an important part of connecting and getting to know someone. 

        It is amazing how good smiling is.  As your life-coach, I offer you this push.  I want you to smile.  Go ahead.  SMILE! 

        Let’s do it again but this time breathe in through your nose, let it out through your mouth and smile as you let the air out.  Doesn’t that feel good?  The breathing is very important.  Your nostrils are attached to the limbic system.  The limbic system controls your emotions, and when you breathe in deep through your nose, it has a calming effect on you.  So breathe in and smile.

        Let’s add a final touch, positive thinking.  It doesn’t hurt to get excited and say to yourself out loud, “I feel good and I am taking control and finding my opportunities!”  Go ahead and do it.  Feel that positive energy in your body and the release of tension. 

        Now that you know how good smiling is for you, make a conscious effort to use this smile exercise a minimum of six times throughout your day. When you smile, remember to breathe in through your nose and think positive thoughts.  This I guarantee will make a positive impact on your day and in your life. 

        In fact, the result from this simple exercise will have a huge effect because a basic fact about energy is that energy is attracted to energy of a similar frequency. So when you smile not only will you be making yourself feel better, you will also be attracting positive energy into your life.

So smile!

About Author:
As a Life-Coach Devlyn has made helping people find ways to improve their lives his personal mission and passion. He is a public consultant, a private counselor, an author and creator of Tools To Life. He has hosted his own radio shows called “Tools To Life” and “Love beat” and has been a guest on over 150 various shows. You can read his articles and advice all over the Internet. Devlyn has often been referred to as “America’s Leading Life-Coach.”

Devlyn’s Mission: There is something I want you to know. I 100% believe in your ability to create the life you want. In order to get new results, you have to have the desire, be willing to take action and have a roadmap to get where you want. What I have set out to do is provide for you if you have the desire and are willing to take action a roadmap that is easy fun and will get you the results you want.

About Tools To Life Developed by Life Coach Devlyn Steele, Tools To Life is a revolution in self- development, a 77-day program in which thousands have implemented successful changes in their lives.  Devlyn Steele is a public consultant, a private counselor, a radio host and an author. He has hosted his own radio show, “Tools To Life” and has been a guest on over 150 various shows. For more information, visit: www.lifecoachadvice.com.

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“Let us be about setting high standards for life, love, creativity, and wisdom. If our expectations in these areas are low, we are not likely to experience wellness. Setting high standards makes every day and every decade worth looking forward to.”

Greg Anderson

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Every week or so I buy a fresh bouquet of flowers for my wife. Ahhhhh. What a great guy! Well I don’t smoke or have any particular habits that I need to waste money on so I decided I would put my money to good use by bringing something of beauty to the one who brings beauty into my world.

Just yesterday I stopped by the florist down the street from us and for the very first time discovered the rock tree. No the tree does not grow rocks. Although jokingly I told the florist I never knew until now where rocks came from. I thought maybe “Boulder” Colorado.

You see, the approximately six foot tall tree had rocks hanging by string on four branches. Each placed at four points as if to create balance. In fact the woman told me that is exactly what it does, creates balance. They read about it in an oriental horticulture book. The tree planted there before died. They couldn’t get one to root there. The book said that by balancing the tree and weighting it down, the tree would have a better chance of survival.

In recent months I have discovered articles and references to that same principle as it applies to our lives. Often times the reason why we fail at achieving our goals and dreams is that our lives are not balance properly. It’s obvious when you consider the person who works too much. Everything else including marriage and family life suffers.

Balance and success come about by giving the right value or importance to all aspects of our lives. Work extra when necessary and play harder during those times when the pressures of life begin to build. Learn to say no to things that will disrupt the priorities you have set. But as in goal setting write your plans in pencil. Adjust as life changes.

In my mind the four corners of a balanced, successful life are as follows: Spiritual, family, personal and professional. They are in fact in order of importance.

Just like the tree, when we learn to balance our lives our roots grow stronger. We open ourselves to the nourishment that a balanced life provides and the fruits of our efforts are abundant in all four areas. Strong roots help us to stand tall against the most destructive storms.

© Bob Perks 2001

Bob Perks is a speaker and author. You can visit his website by going to: www.IWishYouEnough.com

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Hardcover, 144 pages, 7.25″x8.25″ By Matthew Emerzian & Kelly Bozza

Millions of people each year want to know how to make a difference… in their lives and the lives of others. Millions of people each year want to focus on what’s important… what really matters.

Read more

or read the interactive book itself

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These are such simple and quick questions. But, by taking the short time to answer them provides you with clarity, understanding, and allows your mind to see solutions to move you forward rather than getting stuck in the emotional aspects of the situation.

Click here to view more details

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An inspiration to give and to love and to love giving

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By Desmond Tutu

You can read more here or buy the book from Amazon for $11.21 which is $3.74 less than the list price of $14.95

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by Michelle L. Casto

Success and Happiness is a feeling every human being on this planet desires in their heart of hearts. And yet most of us look for happiness in all the wrong places and end up causing ourselves more suffering.

This is because we are looking outside of ourselves for some thing or some one to bring us that feeling.

Rumi once said, We go from room to room looking for the diamond necklace around our neck. So it is when we search “everywhere” for happiness, we never see where it really is, which is with us all along.

I think we all would agree that Happiness does not depend on material things, such as driving a certain car or holding a prestigious title. (although those things can add pleasure to your life).

Happiness does not depend on other people, like whether you have a significant other or not. (although having loving and supportive people around adds to your enjoyment)

Happiness does not depend on what happens, so if you stay, it will be good and if you go, it will be good.

Happiness is not to be found anywhere in the external world.

The main obstacle to happiness is faulty thinking. For instance thinking, someone or some thing can make you happy. Beware also of what A Course in Miracles calls, “elusive happiness, which is happiness that changes and shifts with times and places. ACIM says this kind of happiness is an illusion and has no meaning!”.

So where does one find happiness?
Stop looking outside for what can only be found inside.
And make a decision to be happy.
Let me repeat that:

Happiness DOES Depend on your decision to be happy.

So, consider this, have you ever made a conscious decision to be happy?
My guess is No.
Here is your official invitation to Be Happy!
Let’s join forces for happiness.

Repeat after me:
I, your name, decide to be happy right now, despite the weather, the world, or what happens to me. I absolutely know it is my God-given birthright to be happy. And as the light of God that I am, I reclaim happiness and happiness reclaims me. So be this.
___________
Michelle L. Casto is a Whole Life Coach, Speaker, and Author of the Get Smart! LearningBook Series. Her coaching practice is Brightlight Coaching, she helps people come up with bright ideas for their life and empowers them to freely shine their bright light to the world. Visit virtually: www.brightlightcoach.com or www.getsmartseries.com. Call for a Complimentary Coaching session (361) 232-3939.

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“Two little words that can make the difference: start now!”
— Mary C. Crowley
………………………………………………………………………

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July 1, 2005, I met my grandchildren and my stepdaughter, Heather, for the first time. She was having marital problems. We were there to bring her and her boys back to new Jersey to live with us. Ginny and I walked through the airport in Oklahoma. “There they are!” she said.

Where,” I asked, looking around.

There!” Ginny pointed.

I saw a beautiful young lady and two boys - ages three and five. They were the oldest of three boys. They stood staring at me, as Heather and Ginny hugged. Ginny turned to the boys and opened her arms, “Joshie! Seth Man! I missed you!”

They ran into her arms. It’d been a year since they’d seen their Gingin. Her hugs were needed. Grandmother hugs are the best. Ginny stood. Heather and the boys stared at me - the unknown grandpa. Ginny introduced me to her daughter. Heather was polite, but I could sense the doubt. Who was this man she didn’t know? I would have to convince her, I wasn’t replacing her dad. Her dad was in heaven now. I was just a man who loved her mom.

Ginny introduced me to Joshie and Seth. They were too shy to look at me. They stood, side-by-side, their eyes passing from Ginny and Heather, with only quick glances in my direction. Their eyes said it all, “Is that our new Poppa?”

We shared hugs and went back to their house, where I met Benny and his other grandma - Sonja. Benny was the youngest of the three and even more afraid of me.

The next day, the older boys were doing flips over my lap and laughing. Benny hugged Sonja, still scared of me. The following day, we packed the kids in the car and headed for New Jersey.

A year later, I sit here and write this story.

My life had changed. My house had been full of breakable and memorable things. In a few weeks they were gone. I hid them in closets and drawers. Our bedroom became a storage room. There are only so many times you can tell a child not to touch something before you realize, they can’t help it. I just packed it all away!

Ginny and I used to spend an hour or two talking or reading when I came home from work, but with the grandkids here, we would always be interrupted. It was a new life. The quiet times were gone.

A year later, Heather and the boys are leaving on a new adventure. The boys are visiting their dad in Oklahoma and will join their mom in Idaho in a few months. Our house is empty. We have our life again - or do we?

I was up at 5 AM to see them off on their trip to see their dad. Their bags were packed and loaded in the car. I was up to see them off. We grabbed the last of their stuff, clamored down the steps and opened the car doors. Benny and Seth jumped in, excited about the trip and seeing their dad. I gave them the best hugs I could, considering they were in such a hurry. Tears formed in my eyes. They’d been a thorn in my feet, but I’d grown used to those thorns.

I buckled Benny in his car seat, stood, and heard, “Poppa Mike?”

I turned toward the voice. Joshie stood staring at me. He’d snuck around the back of the car. “Yes, Joshie?”

“I love you.”

“I love you too, Joshie,” I said. Big tears began to roll down my cheeks. “I love you too, buddy. I’ll miss you. Be a good boy for your daddy.”

The car pulled away. They were gone. I went back into the house and looked around. There were a few small toys scattered about. I saw a plastic block in a corner. In the kitchen was a pack of Crayons. Behind the sofa was a cart full of Lego’s.

My house was bare of trinkets but full of memories.

A few days later, I sat in the living room and noticed the scratch marks on my teak coffee table. They were the marks from a “Bob the Builder” plastic saw. When I first saw those marks, I was so angry, I stomped out of the house and took a long walk to cool my temper. I thought of all the breakables hidden in closets. Memories of a broken lamp, stomping feet, yelling, screaming, crying, interrupted conversations, spilled drinks and sprayed food flashed through my mind. It had been a rough year for me. I had a hard time adjusting to having young kids in the house.

A little boy walked around the back of the car and said, “I LOVE YOU!”

The stress, cries, scratches on tables, stains in carpets, tablecloths cut with scissors, screams, nicks, marks, and broken furniture were forgiven. Three words said with meaning. That’s all it took, just three powerful words - I LOVE YOU!

Michael T. Smith

To read more stories by Michael please visit: http://subs.zinester.com/86758/ or email him directly at: mtsmith@qwestonline.com

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