The topic will be Practicing Happiness. Pete will lead us and he advises folks to bring a smile.
From “Be Free Where You Are,” by Thich Nhat Hanh:
“In the exercise 'breathing in, I smile,' you may ask: Why should I smile when there is no joy in me? The answer to that is: Smiling is a practice. There are over three hundred muscles in your face. When you are angry or fearful, these muscles tense up. The tension in these muscles creates a feeling of hardness. If you know how to breathe in and produce a smile, however, the tension will disappear- it’s what I call 'mouth yoga.' Make smiling an exercise. Just breathe in and smile – the tension will disappear and you will feel much better.
There are times when your joy produces a smile. There are also times when a smile causes relaxation, calm and joy. I do not wait until there is joy in me to smile; joy will come later. Sometimes when I’m alone in my room in the dark, I practice smiling to myself. I do this to be kind to myself, to take good care of myself, to love myself. I know that if I can’t take care of myself I can’t take care of anyone else. Being compassionate to yourself is a very important practice. When you are tired, angry or in despair, you should know how to go back to yourself and take care of your tiredness, your anger, and your despair. That is why we practice smiling, mindful walking and breathing and mindful eating.”
We will meet in room 113 at the UU Church.
practicing mindfulness in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh