What Is Your Smile Ratio?

You are more effective when you are enjoying your life

When you are wearing a mask or on a Zoom call, it may feel like smiling is optional.

If you fail to smile, you miss out, and so do those you interact with.

I have noticed that people are smiling less. This seems to be affecting people’s attitudes. This is not a good trend.

Smiling and laughter are some of the best medicines for our success. It has been proven to relax us and others.

It may not be as evident today with our new COVID-19 practices. However, it is still as vital.

Lesson to Learn

You can pick up your spirit, and that of others, by smiling and laughing more.

Look for appropriate ways to smile and laugh more — not less.

When you are relaxed, it shows in your actions and how you treat others.

Just because your mask covers your mouth, it does not mean a smile is not effective in lightening your load.

Besides, a goods smile or laugh shows on your face and in your mood well beyond the actual occurrence.

Smile and laugh more to be more effective.

Answer for Me

Early on in the crisis, I was very serious and focused. It was taking its toll on my effectiveness.

I decided to make a concerted effort to smile more, laugh more, and relax more.

This has helped me extend my days and be more helpful to others. When I am grateful, I smile more. When I am more thankful, it helps me be more open to others.

All of this results in me enjoying my day and the presence of others more. It gives me more resilience and creates hope. I need both attributes more during this pandemic.

Action

Intentionally look for moments to smile and laugh more.

Increase your smile ratio for your day.

It has been scientifically proven that smiles are healthy for you. It also increases the chances of smiles from others.

Video meetings provide a great chance to smile and laugh more.

Let others know you are still finding joy in life, despite the pandemic.

All your efforts will pay off as others return the smiles and light-up their moods as well.

Daily Action

Remind yourself to smile and laugh each day.

Give yourself the goal of enjoying your day. By being intentional in your approach, you will find yourself and others enjoying your days more.

When you start to feel tight or sad, try pausing to be grateful and smile.

Even a brief moment of joy can turn your entire day around.

Encourage others to smile. Even a simple reminder can help people get out of their moods of doom and gloom.

At the end of the day, reflect on your joyful moments. Remembering them will be another chance to smile and to celebrate your day.

To learn more about leadership visit me at www.macny.org.

To get a copy of my book Present-Future Leader, go to www.amazon.com.