If I told you of a guaranteed way to improve the quality of your existing relationships and make yourself more attractive to others would you try it? I believe you would! There actually is a guaranteed way to make yourself immediately more attractive. Each of us has a God-given built-in mechanism that is guaranteed to make anybody more attractive… it requires little effort and it's absolutely free! It's called a smile.

From the time I was a young girl up through my early twenties, I became acutely aware of an important fact: people (especially those of the opposite gender) pay very close attention to the face; not just the features of the face, but the overall countenance. I had a countenance that I used to describe as 'serious.' I was not an unhappy person, but since I did not grow up in an environment where I was smiled at very much, without realizing it, my countenance began to reflect that. When given opportunity, I smiled readily, but I did not usually look like I was ready to smile. As a result, people would often ask me what the matter was. Having people ask me questions like, "It can't be that bad, can it?" was a commonplace occurrence. It took me a long while to realize that a simple smile could make a world of difference in how I was perceived by others, how approachable I seemed, and what message I was giving to people about who I was.

Once I realized the power of a smile, I determined that I would start smiling at others more. Initially, it was very awkward and felt very forced, but I continued to do it anyway. Eventually, a remarkable transformation happened: I started to become more attractive to others — male, female, young, old, across cultures. It didn't matter who I came in contact with, even if they looked sour, sad, or serious, they all responded to a simple smile. The feedback I received from people was so encouraging that I started to smile even more until I reached the point where smiling became as natural as breathing. Not only did it make me feel good to smile, I started to realize that my smile had the power to make others feel good too! Who would not want to be around someone who makes them feel good?

You might say, I don't have anything to smile about or I'm too sad or depressed to smile. Well, I've got good news for you! Research proves that even 'faking' a smile can make a person feel happier. Smiling actually releases endorphins that make us feel better. I've discovered that smiling has a cyclical effect: the more you smile, the better you feel, so the more you smile. So, even if you have to fake it at first, keep faking it until you feel it.

There are so many people who try to make themselves more attractive to others, even those who by most standards would be considered physically beautiful. People try to improve their attractiveness through fashion, through hairstyles, through things and possessions. Sadly, some have discovered that you can be physically beautiful and/or the best dressed or coifed, but still be unattractive. You don't have to run out to get the latest nip-n-tuck procedure, or the latest fashion trend or must-have accessory. Try your built-in attractiveness mechanism: SMILE! If you must spend your money on something, perhaps you might consider investing in something that might help to improve the quality of your smile.

Aleathea Dupree is the author of Though The Vision Tarry: Waiting For My Promised Mate and the Founder and Administrator for the Deep Waters website and forum. Copyright © 2007. All Rights Reserved. For permission to reprint, please contact: administrator@deepwaters.info.

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TWO MILLION HITS AND COUNTING!
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(New American Standard Bible)

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