What Makes You Smile?

Ever noticed how a simple smile can light up your day? It's like a little burst of joy that lifts us up, even when we're dealing with challenges. Earlier this week I posed the question, "What makes you smile?" on Facebook. The answers reminded me of the incredible power that lies in the small, wonderful moments in our lives. Here are a few of the responses: 

Beautiful views

My kids

Authenticity 

My golden doodle

Seeing the rays of sunlight piercing through the clouds 

Adventures and mountains 

Helping others 

My granddaughter 

Singing 

Family and friends 

Dancing 

This list makes me smile. It's always the little things, ya know? Reading a beautiful poem, receiving a text message from an old friend, enjoying a long walk on a gorgeous morning, or brightening a stranger's day with a compliment. These are the moments that infuse our lives with magic.  

Smiling shifts our mood. We feel lighter, happier, and more grateful. Plus, smiles are contagious - they have the power to create ripples of joy that extend far beyond ourselves. 

So think about this: Are you intentionally filling your life with what makes you smile? When we make a conscious effort to seek out and embrace these sources of happiness, we're able to gain perspective, and our world changes. 

Here's to a week filled with smiles. 

Ideas to Inspire

1. Three Journaling Prompts to Unlock Your Potential.

2. If you want to discover how to reinvent yourself at any age, check out last week's episode of Do What You Love Live with my special guest Barbara Majeski. 

3. Inspiring Quote: “The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain!” - Dolly Parton 

4. Book Recommendation: If you're interested in learning how to become a better writer, Nicolas Cole's book The Art and Business of Online Writing is a great read. 

5. Journaling Prompt: When was the last time you felt truly at peace? 

For more journaling prompts, check out my Create For No Reason Journal.  

You are the artist of your life. Go create something.