Journey of a thousand smiles. Monday February 6, 2012

OK. Let's suppose you're having a bad day - a really bad day - and out of the blue someone tells you a joke, or you see something funny online or on TV.

You laugh.

Does this change your underlying mood? Is everything immediately fine and dandy again?

No, of course it isn't. But yes, perhaps it is a little.

If you've been eating a poor diet for too long, one slice of raw carrot isn't suddenly going to improve your health. But multiply this effect into several days of food that's better for you, and things will unquestionably improve.

The trick, I think, is in not turning your back on that small first chink of light in the mistaken assumption that nothing (NOTHING) will help.

Building a better state of mind is hardly ever the result of one large intervention, but a gradual process building on a range of different inputs.

A laugh here, a hug there, little conversations everywhere.

So the next time you're mired in the glums, don't dismiss that involuntary chuckle as meaningless.

It, and other perhaps tiny slices of positivity, are what will conspire to lift you back to where you belong.

---

Permalink  |  Blog Home