Let A Smile Be Your Umbrella

Try to see the bright side in every situation

Photo by Samuel Regan-Asante on Unsplash

Too often, some people only see the downside of things. You don’t have to be that way; it just ends up making you feel depressed. Almost every situation has a brighter side, so why dwell on the negative? A good sense of humor is a positive, beneficial way of looking at life.

Try it, you will like it. Smiling at others is an excellent way to bring out the positive in them. It is hard to resist a cheerful smile, whether it is from a friend or a stranger. I see this every day on my usual walk, and the transformative power of a smile changes the attitude of nearly everyone for the better.

There is a transfer of positive energy between two people when they smile at each other, and it often is enough to last the whole day. When you smile at someone else, a total stranger, a passing acquaintance, or especially an old friend, there is a positive exchange of energy that is transformative.

You are validating each other's existence as human beings by smiling at them as equals. You are showing them a different way of thinking, breaking them free from their boredom or depression, and inducing an almost involuntary flow of endorphins in their brains.

It is a very human reaction, and we are all humans. I have seen people walking around scowling, frowning, withdrawn, and sullen. You can just sense they are dwelling on and allowing some negative energy to invade their headspace. Often, all it takes to reverse this gloom swoon is a simple smile. It feels good, it is natural, and it costs you nothing.

Maybe they are imagining the worst possible ending to every scenario, the ultimate defeat, the loss of a job, or maybe the breakup of a relationship. But nobody knows for sure how the future will turn out, and often a positive attitude can banish that negative feeling of impending doom. Sometimes, it engenders the transformation you were seeking all along.

Most of the things people worry the most about never happen anyway, so why give them an ounce of time? Don't let these negative emotions invade your headspace in the first place. Turn that frown upside down, and you will nearly always reap the benefits. And so will they, it is a reciprocal emotion, and one that is nearly impossible to resist.

Photo by Andreea Pop on Unsplash

Happy people make everybody around them happy. And we have seen the power of the fact that happiness is contagious. We have all seen this in our personal lives.

It is almost impossible to be a Gloomy Gus or a Debbie Downer whenever everybody else is in a good mood. How many times have we been stuck in an impossibly gnarly traffic jam, when someone busts out laughing at the sheer absurdity of it all? There is humor in nearly every situation, so just let it flow and flourish, flash and flower, germinate and grow.

Smiling and laughing are, after all is said and done, the best way of relating to each other. Think of a bad mood as a passing rainshower, not a permanent condition. The sun will shine again; we all know that. We have all been there, done that. Take a shortcut and flip on the fun switch today.

Why not have the most fun we can while we can? It is the most positive and logical way to traverse the twists and turns of everyday life, navigate the shoals of negativity, and overcome the ups and downs of everyday life.

We are all humans, and life is a shared journey. Enjoy the ride while we can, for as long as we can. It is the same the world over. We are all connected…