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    The Practice Of Smiling

    SF
    Sean FargoPublished November 28, 2019 · Updated October 21, 2026 · 1 min read

    Printable Worksheet

    The Practice of Smiling

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    A mindful companion to this worksheet

    A mindful approach to the practice of smiling

    “The Practice of Smiling” is an invitation to slow down and meet your experience with curiosity, honesty, and kindness.

    How mindfulness can help

    Mindfulness offers a steady place to stand while you work with any topic. Instead of being carried along by reaction, we notice what is here, sensations, thoughts, and feelings, and respond from presence rather than pressure.

    Gentle steps to try

    1. Begin with the breath. You might take three slow breaths before opening the worksheet, and let the body arrive.
    2. Read with curiosity. Move through each prompt slowly. Notice which questions soften you and which ones tighten you.
    3. Write what is true now. There are no right answers, only honest ones. What is true at this moment is what the worksheet is asking for.
    4. Close with one breath. When you finish, pause. You might place a hand on your heart and thank yourself for showing up.

    Insight does not arrive on a schedule. Trust the practice of returning, and the honesty you bring each time you do.

    Here’s a Sample of the “The Practice Of Smiling” Guided Meditation Script:

    Smiling

    Mindfulness practice means feeling how you feel. Instead of avoiding or shoving down pain, you accept it with care and attention. But that doesn’t mean you have to sit in pain, doing nothing. The simple practice of smiling can invite joy into the mind and body, and may ease some of this pain. In this exercise, you will mindfully tune in to how it feels to bring a gentle smile across the face. You might allow the eyes to close and find a comfortable sitting posture. If you are able to, you might keep the spine straight to invite energy and alertness into the mind and body. You might begin by bringing your attention to the sensations of the body breathing.

    You might start with the abdomen, tuning in to the rising and falling. Let the body breathe itself; you don’t need to breathe in any certain way. After two minutes, you might move your attention to the chest. Feeling the expansion and contraction here as the body continues to breathe. When you notice that the mind has wandered, simply bring the chest back into your awareness. Allow two more minutes to pass. Now you might move your attention up to the nostrils. You may feel the breath at the tip or base of the nose or on the upper lip. Paying attention to the subtle sensation of breathing here.

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