About 20 years ago, I did this test, which has added so much value to my life.
It said if there is ONE thing you could do that would positively impact people’s lives, and change your own life, what would it be?
I thought about this deeply, and yet the answer was so simple. The answer was a SMILE.
I put myself into strict ‘smile training’, as I am one of those people who, when I get clear and specific about what I want, gets passionate and committed and participates 100%.
I put ‘post it notes’ with ‘smile’ on everywhere - in my bathroom, in my study desk, my office desk, my car, inside my schedules... I even had my kids make a huge banner with ‘smile’ on it and put it in the garage so I could see it as I drove in and when I got out of the car. And of course, I went into my house wearing, yes you’re right, a smile!
I think miracles happened in my house. My teenage son changed his behaviour radically - he even cleaned up his room, tidied up his mess (a great source of aggravation for me), and cooked me a great dinner if my wife was out. I could feel his love and care in the cooking. And the biggest gift of all was after about six weeks of my smile campaign, when he and my wife shared with me that they had been scared of me, in case I was in a bad mood.
Can you believe how I felt? the people I loved so much, scared of me! But not anymore.
All because of the power of a smile, trust developed.