Three young monks are tasked with sitting in silence.
If they can do it for three hours, they will get a nice meal with extras from the kitchen.
They are doing well as they sit in quiet meditation but after what seems like an age, a gong sounds loudly for midday meal.
But they must stay silent just a little longer.
The smell of cooking foods permeate the air, drifting in through their nostrils.
"I'm so hungry." The first monk rubs his tummy and declares.
The second monk opens his eyes. "Shut up you idiot. We are supposed to be maintaining silence!"
The third novice monk looks at the other two and smiles: Ha! I win! I am the only one who has not spoken!"
Recent neurology studies in the U.K have found definitive and measurable proof that the act of physically smiling triggers mechanisms in the brain that release pleasure giving chemicals that enhance a sense of well - being.
A case where feelings actually follow action!
It is very easy to slip out of the habit of smiling as we weave our way through lifes' challenges or make our way through the traffic and crowds to our everyday jobs and roles/ responsibilities.
If you were to try smiling on a bus filled with serious early morning commuters ..well, you might feel just a little bit mad and possibly it might look odd too, as it can seem slightly out of place in that particular setting.
Of course even if we have to suppress that smile for too long on a regular basis it is also more likely to become habitual.
The muscles in the face forget the physical requests, the brain is not asked to co create/cooperate.
The neural pathways are rewired and reset and our feelings and thoughts affected also. Develop then an "inner" smile that comes from the heart.
Read some light hearted and positive literature. Learn to laugh again at the human condition and at your self.
After all, this whole thing is ever so mildly ridiculous.
In the middle of the madness we still have to pull our socks on, yawn and stretch for another day of cosmic craziness. Life.
Zen made good use of humour. The ability to laugh at our pomposity, our falls from pride and petty self obsessions. Our magic moments.
And then it is gone...so what else is there to do sometimes BUT laugh.
Or at least smile.
So think of and recall anything that you have been or are grateful for in your life right at this moment.
If you have been loved, even briefly, or have been lucky enough to have given love to another.
Do you remember the last time you laughed long and hard at something?
What was it? When? How did it feel?
If they can do it for three hours, they will get a nice meal with extras from the kitchen.
They are doing well as they sit in quiet meditation but after what seems like an age, a gong sounds loudly for midday meal.
But they must stay silent just a little longer.
The smell of cooking foods permeate the air, drifting in through their nostrils.
"I'm so hungry." The first monk rubs his tummy and declares.
The second monk opens his eyes. "Shut up you idiot. We are supposed to be maintaining silence!"
The third novice monk looks at the other two and smiles: Ha! I win! I am the only one who has not spoken!"
Recent neurology studies in the U.K have found definitive and measurable proof that the act of physically smiling triggers mechanisms in the brain that release pleasure giving chemicals that enhance a sense of well - being.
A case where feelings actually follow action!
It is very easy to slip out of the habit of smiling as we weave our way through lifes' challenges or make our way through the traffic and crowds to our everyday jobs and roles/ responsibilities.
If you were to try smiling on a bus filled with serious early morning commuters ..well, you might feel just a little bit mad and possibly it might look odd too, as it can seem slightly out of place in that particular setting.
Of course even if we have to suppress that smile for too long on a regular basis it is also more likely to become habitual.
The muscles in the face forget the physical requests, the brain is not asked to co create/cooperate.
The neural pathways are rewired and reset and our feelings and thoughts affected also. Develop then an "inner" smile that comes from the heart.
Read some light hearted and positive literature. Learn to laugh again at the human condition and at your self.
After all, this whole thing is ever so mildly ridiculous.
In the middle of the madness we still have to pull our socks on, yawn and stretch for another day of cosmic craziness. Life.
Zen made good use of humour. The ability to laugh at our pomposity, our falls from pride and petty self obsessions. Our magic moments.
And then it is gone...so what else is there to do sometimes BUT laugh.
Or at least smile.
So think of and recall anything that you have been or are grateful for in your life right at this moment.
If you have been loved, even briefly, or have been lucky enough to have given love to another.
Do you remember the last time you laughed long and hard at something?
What was it? When? How did it feel?