You’ve surely heard all the reasons why you should try to smile more:

• A smile causes others to smile back
• A smile causes an auto-response in your brain that makes you feel happier
• A smile attracts positive people to you, rather than fellow sulkers
• A smile makes you more likable
• A smile makes you more attractive
• More opportunities come to happy people
• A smile uses many less muscles than a frown.

Those are just some reasons to smile, all so obvious that we can’t really deny them. So, if we don’t deny there are positive results from smiling, why it is that most of us, even those of us who are consciously working on building our optimism, really don’t smile as much as we should? I’m not trained to answer that question. But I can tell you that–especially these days–there are simply not enough smiles in this world.

So here is your challenge, and I want you to report back to me on the results: The next day you are out in the world, at work, doing errands, visiting friends or family, walking the mall…anywhere you will be among others, SMILE. Smile often. I don’t mean you should wear a fake on your face for the entire day. I mean when you make eye contact with a passerby, smile. When you are buying something, smile at the clerk. When you are at a stop light and look to the car next to you and your eyes meet, smile at the person. If you hold a door open for someone, smile at them as they pass through; likewise if someone holds the door open for you, smile and say thank you. Smile at your kids, your parents, your dog, whoever, when you say Good Morning. Smile at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself you’re going to have a great day. Smile when you are talking to someone on the phone–they’ll sense it. When something irritating happens, instead of cursing under your breath, smile and laugh it off. Smile at your waiter or waitress in a restaurant. Watch a comedy on TV instead of the news or drama. Say hello with a smile to your least favorite person at your office. Say goodnight to your family members with a smile and an I Love You as well.

You must remember to do this all day long. Tie a string to your finger. Put a note in your pocket. Have your cell phone beep every half hour to remind yourself to ask, have I been taking advantage of every opportunity to smile today?

I believe if you do this you will have a better day than you can even imagine. Keep it up and you’ll eventually be in the habit of smiling more often without having to think about it. And your life will change, from within and also from the happiness and opportunities you will attract.

Please post a comment letting me know how it goes.