[vc_row type=”full_width_background” bg_position=”center top” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_color=”#990033″ scene_position=”center” text_color=”light” text_align=”left” top_padding=”7″ bottom_padding=”7″][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” bg_position=”left top” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” top_padding=”11″ bottom_padding=”11″][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]How did you find yesterday’s video? How many “I am…” statements have you spotted yourself saying – in your head or out loud – in the last few days?

I’d love to hear from you, via the video’s discussion threads.

Today I’m sharing the first of our ‘first aid’ techniques (though I’m hoping that the videos of the first 3 days are already helping!).

I’m spilling the beans on how you can test whether your posture is making you miserable… Interested?
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Did you know that the way you’re sitting can make you feel tired and miserable?

Want to test it out?

1. Sit down for a moment and slouch.
   Really get that slopping seating position where your head is verging on doing a nodding dog impression. Yes… that’s it.
   Now frown. Look really grumpy. Notice how you’re feeling?
   Let’s crank it up a notch. Let’s experiment with telling yourself: “I am tired and weak. Tired and weak. Tired and weak.”
   Now try to stand up. What did you notice? It was hard work, wasn’t it?

Ready for the contrast? Give yourself a quick shake first!

2. Now sit up straight and smile!
   Sit up as straight as is comfortable for you, lift your chin slightly and scrunch up your eyes tightly for 3 seconds before opening them again – that releases the tension around our eyes, which we need to do before the next bit.
   Now: gently allow the corners of your mouth to turn upwards, ever-so-slightly, then a little bit more.
   You are now smiling! Not a lame little smirk. We’re talking full-on smiles – teeth and all, if that’s your thing. Smile with your eyes, smile with your mouth. Smile with your heart. Think ‘smiley’ thoughts. Feel the lift as you do it for a full 60 seconds.

   Crank it up by telling yourself: “I am powerful and strong. Powerful and strong. Powerful and strong.”
   Now stand up.
   Notice how you almost flew across the room?
   How are you feeling?

Chances are you’ll be feeling better. Your face is likely to be more relaxed, your mood will probably have lifted and you might be aware that you are generally feeling more positive.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][image_with_animation image_url=”16704″ animation=”Fade In” img_link_target=”_self”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]Sometimes it can be easy to fall into the trap of thinking that we have nothing to smile about, but smiling can be transformational and it can be an amazing way to cut your stress levels and dump life’s drama. And smiling mindfully means you’ll benefit even more from it.

The sympathetic nervous system is our fight or flight response – the primal part of the brain – which is responsible for short term survival-style decisions, which diverts fuel from non-essential bodily processes and organs, to help give you the energy to escape from imminent danger. It’s the bit we drag into action when we’re feeling stressed, which floods your system with stress hormones. The parasympathetic nervous system is all about relaxation and allowing your cells to carry on with their vital health-giving moment-to-moment tasks.

When you smile you trigger the endorphins that rebalance those two systems dramatically cutting the stress levels in your body.

Smiling, even if you’re not in the mood, triggers the release of the body’s happy chemicals, which cheer you up.

Your body doesn’t care whether it’s a real smile or a fake one. If we do it for 30-60 seconds, the hormones start flooding round the body and the happier feeling grows, so the smile soon becomes real!

So if you want an instant mood lift, get smiling.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][image_with_animation image_url=”16803″ animation=”Fade In” img_link_target=”_blank” img_link=”https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152494214011238&set=pcb.344188859085249&type=1&theater” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][image_with_animation image_url=”16804″ alignment=”center” animation=”Fade In” img_link_target=”_blank” img_link=”https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152494213986238&set=pcb.344188859085249&type=1&theater”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][image_with_animation animation=”Fade In” img_link_target=”_self” image_url=”16702″ alignment=”center” img_link_large=”yes”][vc_column_text]

And here’s a bonus affirmation for you:

“I love how easily smiling helps me to feel happier – even if I was grumpy before!.”[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Click here to share on Facebook[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]I’ll be back in a couple of days (you’re getting a day off!) with our next technique, which is your first mini-workbook – How To Deal With Difficult Emotions In Under 5 Minutes.

See you then!

With love, Namaste,
Clare x

P.S. If you’re the kind of person who needs to dive in and devour everything in one go, here’s a summary page for the whole course. However, most people find it works best if they follow the emails as they arrive, breaking things down into bite-sized chunks. It’s up to you – there’s no judgement here! xx[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]