A smile can be contagious.  When I lived in London I would smile as much as possible because I was fed up of seeing all the sad, frustrated, pained faces.  It made me so happy if I smiled at a stranger and they reciprocated, and if they didn’t that was fine too.  Also, on the days when I wasn’t smiling the smile of a passing stranger would often mean so much.  Smiling helps me to remember all the positive things in my life and as I have written about previously gratitude and positivity can be so healing. So what brings a smile to your face?  For me it can be many things – the sunshine in the morning, seeing my husband smile, cycling, speaking to a good friend, a warm shower, taking time to sit and take some deep breaths when everything is busy. In the past food probably would have been on my list.  I thought it made me smile but really it didn’t, for me it was a distraction from feeling my feelings.  A block to how I really felt.  At that time I piled on the pounds and became more miserable and turned more to food, the food was healthy, that was how I justified it, but the pattern and the negative thinking was unhealthy.  A vicious cycle.  With awareness of this I began to find things that really did make me smile.  The journey was not easy but certainly worthwhile.  For me it involved personal growth,….

In the past if I was anxious or feeling overwhelmed I would react by throwing myself deep into work or over-exercise or I might comfort eat.  However, over the last 15 years or so I have learned alternative ways of dealing with tough times.  Being aware, being mindfu, of how I feel without judging it or reacting against it helps me personally.  Meditation, walking, breathing, reading positive texts, keeping a journal and talking to trusted friends also helps.  A few years ago a therapist I was working with suggested writing down everything I was grateful for at times when I felt anxious or overwhelmed or a bit down.  She told me about some of the studies which looked into gratitude as being a positive way of helping those with mood or depression problems.   Remembering all I have to be grateful for is a sure fire way to steady my nerves and become peaceful. And I have so much to be grateful for e.g. my eyes that let me see, fingers, toes, feet to carry me, my husband, my family, friends, my warm bed, the beautiful countryside around me, clean drinking water, hot water for showers, my bed, food, my computer, books, my big heart, butterflies in the garden……so much.  Often I write a gratitude list in my journal before I go to sleep – it helps me to remember that all is well, that I am blessed and there is so much goodness in my life. There is a….