“SMILE”

What is a smile? Is it as simple as using one's facial muscles to lift up the ends of one's mouth? Yes, it is as simple as that for a fake smile.

If you want to see a pure or genuine smile, look at the smile of an innocent baby. There is no expectation and no selfishness. A genuine smile begins in the heart with a warm feeling, proceeds to the eyes and then forces the ends of the mouth upwards to make up a smile.

Smile has enormous benefits for both the giver and receiver of the smile. Here are just some of those benefits:

• A smile makes others feel good. When you smile at someone, it has an immediate uplifting effect on that person. People like to be with those people who make them feel good.




• A smile leaves favorable impressions. First impressions are said to be made within three seconds. These first impressions are mostly based on feelings and emotions. A smile is one of most influential characteristic on other's emotions. Smile, and leave others with a favorable impression of you.




• A smile makes you look happy, confident and self-assured. It is the confident sales person who makes the sales. It is the confident student who gets the good grades. It is the confident Toastmaster who communicates effectively. Confidence is a large part of success and smiling is way of showing your confidence to others without saying a word.

The most influential people throughout the history understood the power of a simple smile. A smile is something that costs nothing, yet is highly valuable. It cannot be bought or sold, only can be given away. The more smiles you give away, the more you get in return.

A smile is beneficial to both you and those you come "in contact" with you. It is the trademark of many famous personalities and is said to be the "secret of success" for many individuals. Use smiles to bring yourself and those around you more joy, happiness and success.

Keep on smiling.

Shaikh A. Munaf
VP, Education
Energy Toastmasters Club