What Makes Everything Better?
Think of those moments when you have felt down, sad, overwhelmed, or confused. What did you use to help you through that moment? I figured out a long time ago a way to make you feel better every single time. Even when you do not want this to work, it works. What I am talking about is a smile. I went as far to come up with a treatment. It is called, Smile Therapy.
Birth of Smile Therapy
My sister Natasha is the book smart one. She graduated cum laude from New York University (NYU) Stern School of Business with degrees in International Business and Marketing in 1997. Right out of college she got a nice paying job in Connecticut. She hated it. She quit; we were both thinking that, with her credentials, she would easily find another job. For a reason we do not know, it was not so easy.
Several months later she landed a job paying her about half of what she was making at her previous job. It wasn't her ideal place to work, but it was something. After a short time there she followed her former boss to a startup company in New York City. Not long after being there that start up went kaput. Without a job again, her savings were starting to deplete. Not being able to see my sister go through this, I told my sister to move in with me – rent free. She moved in, but refused rent free. She also got another job.
I am not sure if it was the combination of what she had gone through in the span of two years, her settling for what work she could get, or if she lost her confidence, but I vividly recall for close to a week my sister coming home down in the dumps EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Whatever pain my sister was feeling, I started to feel it too. I felt it because I did not know how to help her. I did not know what to do in order to make her feel better. It got to the point, however, where I could not take feeling sad when I was not sad, except for what I was feeling for her, of course. It was in that moment that Smile Therapy came into existence.
Smile Therapy Overview
Smile therapy is best demonstrated by watching it. That is why I have included a video in this post. As I say in the video, it is a little embarrassing doing Smile Therapy for someone other than my family, but I am willing to put my goofy self out there to help brighten up someone else's day. If you do not have immediate access to YouTube, here is how Smile Therapy is done.
[youtube width=”540″ height=”405″]https://youtu.be/CLoFC5FyY7Q[/youtube]
The Voice: That is the name of an American television show, but for me Smile Therapy started with me attempting to sound like Julia Child. Why I chose Julia Child, I have no idea. Maybe it was because she always cooked with a welcoming smile.
The Treatment:
In my Julia Child's voice I am speaking to you saying what follows:
Hello, we are going to do a bit of Smile Therapy.
Take the left corner of your of mouth and move it towards your left ear.
Take the right corner of your month and move it towards your right ear.
There you have it, a smile. That is Smile Therapy.
Smile Therapy Side Effects
By all means, laugh, think I am nuts, or whatever else may come to your mind. Consider this though: didn't I at least distract you for a moment or place a smile on your face? Yes? Then my job is done.
Smile Therapy may not always take away your pain, but its side effects can be beneficial in that it:
- Takes off some of the edge that you are feeling.
- Clears your mind.
- Acts as a welcome distraction.
- Improves your mood and disposition.
As for my sister, over the past several years I have done Smile Therapy with her a time or two as she worked towards becoming a PhD in Clinical Psychology. I may not have always made her feel 100 percent better, but I could feel her smile come through the phone when she responded, “Thank You, Pammy.”
The next time you are feeling some kind of way – down, sad, overwhelmed, or confused – practice your Smile Therapy. My hope is that Smile Therapy will put a smile on your face too.
Start the Discussion: What methods do you use to help make you feel better? Share in the post comments, on Facebook or Twitter.