“A merry heart
makes a cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is
broken.” (Proverbs 15:13 NKJ)
makes a cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is
broken.” (Proverbs 15:13 NKJ)
A merry heart gives
the face a lift. A smile is better than a frown or scowl or grimace. Self-help
gurus and the positivity movement claim that it takes less facial muscles to
smile than to frown. But there is no scientific agreement on how many muscles it
actually takes for these expressions (see Snopes.com).
the face a lift. A smile is better than a frown or scowl or grimace. Self-help
gurus and the positivity movement claim that it takes less facial muscles to
smile than to frown. But there is no scientific agreement on how many muscles it
actually takes for these expressions (see Snopes.com).
Whether it is
physically exhausting to frown or exhilarating to smile, the smile is certainly
beneficial. The wise teacher of Proverbs affirms that our inward feelings and
emotions does affect our outward expressions. And it definitely makes a better
impression on those around us. Perhaps we cannot truly understand why, people
we meet will respond in kind to the expressions we exhibit. It seems we humans
like reflecting what we see. And we do so with no conscious understanding of
why we do.
physically exhausting to frown or exhilarating to smile, the smile is certainly
beneficial. The wise teacher of Proverbs affirms that our inward feelings and
emotions does affect our outward expressions. And it definitely makes a better
impression on those around us. Perhaps we cannot truly understand why, people
we meet will respond in kind to the expressions we exhibit. It seems we humans
like reflecting what we see. And we do so with no conscious understanding of
why we do.
So, when we smile
others smile back. Hence the old adage, “smile and the world smiles with
you.” But our smiles are not beneficial only to those we meet today. A
smile benefits the one doing the smiling! We may be confident that a facial
expression does not merely reflect our feelings, it contributes to and
increases its impact. A smile elevates our spirits and a frown depresses our
spirits.
others smile back. Hence the old adage, “smile and the world smiles with
you.” But our smiles are not beneficial only to those we meet today. A
smile benefits the one doing the smiling! We may be confident that a facial
expression does not merely reflect our feelings, it contributes to and
increases its impact. A smile elevates our spirits and a frown depresses our
spirits.
Now I know why
mother constantly said (and my wife still reminds me), “Smile!”
Smiling makes us feel better. But trying to fake it until the real thing occurs
is not a cure-all for every situation (i.e., grief and so forth), but smiling
is a short-term cure for attacks of the blues.
mother constantly said (and my wife still reminds me), “Smile!”
Smiling makes us feel better. But trying to fake it until the real thing occurs
is not a cure-all for every situation (i.e., grief and so forth), but smiling
is a short-term cure for attacks of the blues.
Eventually, however,
we must deal with the problem instead of covering symptoms with band-aids.
Whether to smile or not is a conscious activity and choice, but if we discover
why our heart is not merry, then we can heal the issues that ultimately control
the face.
we must deal with the problem instead of covering symptoms with band-aids.
Whether to smile or not is a conscious activity and choice, but if we discover
why our heart is not merry, then we can heal the issues that ultimately control
the face.
When the heart is
merry the face will be cheery! You see it boils down to this: heart issues.
They control how the body reacts. Medical professionals will tell you that
issues of the heart affect human physiology. Psychologists will tell you that
mental hygiene is directly affected by issues of the heart. So, what is
obstructing your heart’s “merriness”? Remove the obstruction and the
whole body will respond with joy and happiness and enthusiasm and smiles.
merry the face will be cheery! You see it boils down to this: heart issues.
They control how the body reacts. Medical professionals will tell you that
issues of the heart affect human physiology. Psychologists will tell you that
mental hygiene is directly affected by issues of the heart. So, what is
obstructing your heart’s “merriness”? Remove the obstruction and the
whole body will respond with joy and happiness and enthusiasm and smiles.
Dear Father, thank
you for a merry heart. Empower us to cast all our care on you for we are
confident that you care for us. Make our hearts merry and our faces smile. I
pray this in the name of Jesus. AMEN
you for a merry heart. Empower us to cast all our care on you for we are
confident that you care for us. Make our hearts merry and our faces smile. I
pray this in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Choose a merry heart
today,
today,