In 2019, I participated in the Festival du Féminin in Kuala Lumpur—an empowering event organized by women to celebrate the creativity, wisdom, and inner strength of women. It was a weekend full of connection, vulnerability, and discovery. Among the various sessions I attended, one in particular stood out: Laughing Yoga. At first, I joined simply out of curiosity. I had never done anything like it before.
The session lasted about 45 minutes, and during that time, we explored various types and stages of laughter. The facilitator guided us to laugh without relying on jokes or humour. It was all about choosing to laugh. In the beginning, it felt strange, even uncomfortable. I remember being asked to smile or laugh without any specific reason, and that went completely against how I usually operated. I smiled only when something justified it.
You see, before this event, I thought of myself as a deeply serious person. My friends would often point out that my face looked tense, or even a little gloomy. Smiling didn’t come naturally to me. I reserved it for moments that truly called for joy. I smiled only when something justified it. In fact, I used to feel that smiling without reason might appear fake or forced. But by the end of that laughing yoga session, something within me began to shift. I let go, even just a little, and joined in the laughter.
It wasn’t an instant transformation, but that experience planted a seed.
Sometime later, I had a moment that made me realize just how much I had changed. I was alone in a park, doing my usual morning exercise, when I suddenly caught myself smiling. There was no particular reason—I just felt good. And that simple, spontaneous smile made me pause. It felt different, light, and peaceful. That’s when it clicked: the practice of smiling, even without a reason, could be part of my life.
Since then, I’ve made a conscious choice to practice smiling. I smile during yoga. I smile while walking. I smile in public spaces, on the road, while working, and even while just sitting quietly. In fact, I’m smiling right now as I write this.
And here’s what I’ve discovered: something as small as a smile can have a profound effect. It softens my mood. It helps my body relax. It shifts my mindset so I can approach stress and deadlines more positively. It gradually gives me a sense of emotional freedom—the power to respond rather than react.
Of course, old habits don’t disappear overnight. There are still days when I fall back into my serious expression. But because I’ve been intentionally practicing this new habit, it’s beginning to feel more natural—like my facial muscles are rewiring themselves. Now, when I catch myself slipping into stress or heaviness, I simply smile and that choice opens up space for calm and clarity.
That one action is enough to bring me back to a better state of mind.
Learning Neuro-Semantics certainly helped my transformation journey. Understanding that our lives are the product of our thoughts and belief systems has also helped clarify and strengthen the new me.
And the most beautiful outcome? Smiling has boosted my confidence. It has changed how I show up in the world, and how I feel about myself. People have even told me I seem more approachable and radiant. I feel more connected to others and to myself.
Want proof? Here’s this photo—one that captures my smile, not just on my face, but in my spirit.
