Try the 20 second Smile today.

Have you heard of the 20 second smile?

It’s a simple idea and concept.

Here’s how it works: when you meet someone for the first time, see if you can get them to smile or even crack a small laugh in the first 20 seconds.   

This doesn’t mean you have to do magic tricks or crack a hilarious Joke.

A better way is simply to empathise with the person you meet, thinking about seeing things from their point of view and using that to make them feel good about themselves and what they do.

The really great thing about this is that it’s something that you can do all of the time and every day. Think about all the people that you meet in your day to day life, the shopkeeper you buy a paper from or the person who sells you a coffee, or the supermarket checkout operator helping you to pack your shopping, even the person you pass walking the dog in the morning.

....just see if you can make them smile in 20 seconds...or less !

Just letting a stranger know they do a great job or a smile of your own about the weather..good or bad can make a real difference to their day, and then to yours too.

How it helps you too !

When you practice doing this it can have some real benefits for you too.

It really helps people to feel at ease with you and it could well be the nicest comment that anyone makes to a hard working waitress, waiter or supermarket worker all day.  This can make their day brighter and happier and then they can pass it on too.

Everyone benefits.

Just think about giving it a try and remember that you will feel so much better about yourself too. What have you got to lose?

:)