Smile! Smile! Smile!

Smile! Smiling is a fantastic way to communicate with those around you as well as strengthen facial muscles. Smiling is a mood lifter – stand in front of a mirror and smile at yourself. When I do that, unless I’m very happy and just catch my reflection, I usually laugh.

Smile at the baby in the grocery cart line.

Smile at the older person standing next to you at the bank.

Smile at your neighbors as you walk or drive along.

Smile at your co-workers.

Smile at — well, you get the idea.

The one thing you can do each and every day no matter where you are is smile.

Warning: smiling can be contagious!

What brings a smile to your face?

Judith Ashley is the author of The Sacred Women’s Circle series, romantic fiction that honors spiritual paths that nurture the soul. The fifth book in the series, Hunter, is due out Summer 2015.

Learn more about The Sacred Women’s Circle series here.

Check out Judith's author page at Windtree Press.

Judith blogs at Romancing The Genres on the first Friday of each month.

Compassion

How would your life change if you showed more Compassion to yourself and others?

Compassion: My dictionary’s definitions: sympathetic feelings: pity, mercy.

Pity is defined as ‘sympathetic sorrow’ or ‘something to be regretted’.

Mercy has several definitions: compassion shown to an offender; a blessing resulting from divine favor or compassion, a fortunate circumstance; compassion shown to victims of misfortune.

Saturday, Deepak Chopra and Oprah Winfrey hosted a global meditation. The focus was on “Compassion”. While I did not participate in the formal program, I did spend time during the day thinking about how I could become more compassionate towards both myself and others.

This is not the first time I’ve talked about compassion here. In March I blogged about compassion and Monica Lewinsky. She did an impressive Ted Talk that I happened upon. Check out my post and the link to the Ted Talk here.

I’m not debating the merits of compassion in and other itself. Actually I’m not debating anything at all. I am, however, sharing ways we each can have a positive impact on the world around us. 

Over the next few weeks my plan is to offer one simple idea each Monday that each of us can practice that will positively impact the world around us. Why? Because I truly believe that each of us can be the change we want to see in the world.

What is one thing you do or can do each day to make a positive change in the world around you?

Judith Ashley is the author of The Sacred Women’s Circle series, romantic fiction that honors spiritual paths that nurture the soul. The fifth book in the series, Hunter, is due out Summer 2015.

Learn more about The Sacred Women’s Circle series here.

Judith blogs at Romancing The Genres on the first Friday of each month.

Check out Judith's author page at Windtree Press.