Unlock the Happiness WIthin

 

 “The land of healing lies within; radiant with the happiness that is blindly sought in a thousand outer directions.” – Swami Vivekananda

The inner smile meditation, originating from the Taoist tradition, is a way to achieve calmness and balance. It also allows you to offer a well deserved smile to yourself.

• Begin by sitting in a chair.

• Keep your feet on the floor.  Spread your toes and ground down through your feet.  Feel the energy through both your legs.

• Lengthen your spine.  Tuck your pelvis and lengthen through the sides of your waist.

• Close your eyes and place your hands in Jnana Mudra. Palms facing up.

This gesture symbolizes the union between your soul and the soul of the world.

• Start concentrating on your breath. As you inhale, feel your belly rise. As you exhale, feel your belly descend – similar to a wave crashing on the shore.

• Imagine a wave of relaxation coming over you… spreading through your entire body.

• Next, turn that feeling into a wave of happiness. This may take a while – don’t get discouraged.  Try thinking about something that made you happy as a kid.

• Let go of any holding in your jaw, let your lips part and your upper and lower teeth separate slightly.

• Without changing your facial expression, imagine the feeling of a smile.

• After a moment bring the feeling of a smile to your heart and linger there in your imagination

• Then feel a smile in both lungs and between your shoulder blades.

• From there, bring the feeling of a smile to your abdominal organs and digestive system, your lower back, your pelvis and both legs.

• Finally feel your whole body as one large open radiant smile.

• Feel yourself as the embodiment of a smile… your whole being renewed, reverberating with the presence of a smile… every cell is smiling.

Anjali Mudra

• When you’re ready – bring your hands to Anjali Mudra. Keeping your eyes closed, bow your head.

• Complete the meditation with a deep inhale and exhale and a moment of silence for reflection.

• Remember this feeling throughout your day if you feel yourself start to unravel.