In 2019, I joined Festival du Féminin in Kuala Lumpur. It is an event organized by women to celebrate women’s talent. One of the sessions I attended was “laughing yoga.” In this 45-minute session, we practiced different kinds and stages of laughter. At first, I found the session challenging. I was asked to smile or laugh with no reason at all. However, by the end of the day, I was able to follow along, and that moment shifted my perspective about myself.
Before this event, I considered myself a very serious person. All my friends would definitely say my face looked very serious, tense, and sometimes gloomy. I seldom smiled and only did so when there was a reason.
Since that event, I find myself smiling more. At first, I didn’t realize it. But there was a moment when I was doing my morning exercise alone in a park, and I suddenly smiled. I felt good about it.
So, since that moment, I decided to practice smiling. This is what I have been doing: I do yoga with a smile. I walk with a smile. I smile while sitting in public areas. I smile while walking on the road. I smile while taking a bath. I am smiling as I write this email to all of you. I am smiling without reason.
Here’s what I feel: As a smile flashes across my face, it slowly changes my mood. My body relaxes more. I can manage my deadlines with a more positive state of mind. I have more power to choose my response to my worries. I can even smile when a friend makes me upset with their words.
But of course, this transformation didn’t happen overnight – it took time, patience, and practice.
Learning Neuro-Semantics has been instumental in my journey, helping me understand the profound connection between my thoughts, beliefs, and reality. By recognizing that my life is shape by my mental frameworks, I’ve been able to redifine and strenghen my sense of self.
I am still tempted to revert to my old habits and put on a serious or gloomy face. However, since I keep practicing smiling as often as I can, my muscle memory starts to record it. So, whenever I am aware of my mood, I smile.
And guess what? Practicing smiling without reason has helped my confidence. What’s the evidence? This photo!
Hany Gungoro, CFA
Business & Financial Consultant
Beyond Numbers Facilitators