INNER SMILE

Many times I have spontaneously experienced what an inner smile feels like. Now I found an article on how it can also be practiced consciously. Meditation is also suitable for beginners.

Inner Peace, Outer Glow: Inner Smile Meditation for Health

https://insighttimer.com/blog/what-is-inner-smile-meditation/

When we extend love and kindness, which can be as simple as smiling, we not only help others feel loved and cared for, we feel a sense of inner peace and contentment as well. This article explore the benefits of the ancient Taoist technique of inner smile meditation.

Have you ever felt the warmth of a smile, not just on your lips but deep within your soul? Smile meditation offers a path to experiencing this deeply rooted warmth. This article explores the benefits of the ancient Taoist technique of inner smile meditation.

What is smile meditation?

Smile meditation is a profound yet straightforward technique that leverages the power of a smile to foster internal harmony, peace, and wellness. Originating from ancient Taoist principles, it emphasizes the transformative impact of smiling not only outwardly but inwardly at oneself. 

This practice involves consciously directing a smile’s healing energy towards oneself, especially focusing on internal organs and the center of your head, thereby promoting a sense of well-being and inner peace.

How do you do the inner smile meditation?

Inner smile meditation begins with finding a comfortable seated position and taking a few deep breaths to center yourself. 

Gently smile, and with each breath, visualize this smile permeating through the center of your head, spreading its positive energy throughout your body. 

Direct this energy to areas that may need healing or comfort, focusing on cultivating a loving and grateful relationship with your internal organs. 

Smiles harmonize the body and mind—the science of smiles 

Modern research echoes these ancient teachings, revealing that smiling can significantly reduce stress hormones like adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol. Science shows that by practicing smiling, you’re essentially encouraging hormonal states that:

balance blood pressure

enhance breathing

speed up healing

stabilize mood

diminish pain

relax muscles into your life

On the flip side, frowning does just the opposite, ramping up stress and its accompanying hormones, which often taxes the body and mind.

Smiling stimulates healing energies

The Taoists had it right all along: maintaining a consistent inner smile is the secret to a life filled with health, happiness, and longevity. By finding smiles inside through smiling meditation, you forge a friendship with your inner self, a bond that keeps you feeling grounded and peaceful, no matter the chaos of the outside world. This inner harmony is a wellspring of contentment, placing it at the top of the list of practices for cultivating internal peace.

Life, with its inevitable stress, often stirs up a storm of negative emotions—fear, anger, sadness, worry, and impatience, to name a few. These emotions, if left unchecked, can erode our health and deplete our vital life force, or qi. Smiling meditation offers a beacon of hope and is a top method to transform these negative energies into positive vibes, illustrating its unparalleled value in maintaining emotional and physical well-being.

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