Photo Credit: Aaron Burden on Unsplash
Losing weight is a body, mind and spirit proposition. Eating right and moving more are important which is why you will find tons of easy, healthy recipes and weight loss tips. The mind and spirit are integral too which is why I collect and share motivational quotes. Words have power. A steady supply of inspiring words are also essential to my success.
I love devotionals. I've been reading them daily for years. I've decided to begin sharing a weekly devotional specific to weight loss. I've found it helpful to read and re-read it every day of the week, until I have it committed to memory. The positive words soak into every part of my being refreshing me and giving me strength.
My hope and prayer is that they do the same for you.
This week's devotional is a great reminder of the power of smiling. The physical act of smiling sends feedback to our brains, telling us we’re happy. Try it right now. Take a few seconds and smile. Do you feel it? A sense of lightness and well being?
Great news for everyone, particularly if you are trying to lose weight because when we're happier, we tend to make healthier decisions, including those that lead to weight loss—such as eating better, moving more, and getting enough sleep.
Photo Credit: Luis Machado on Unsplash
My Weekly Weight Loss Devotional: Smile
Each time I smile, I bless my mind, body and spirit.
I have made the amazing discovery that both of the following are equally true: smiling causes me to feel good and felling good causes me to smile. No matter how difficult my day has been, when I turn a frown to a smile, I can't help but think happier thoughts. Even in the times when I feel discouraged, I have found that a smile uplifts me.
As I contemplate the expression: "let a smile be your umbrella," I think about what it means. It's true: An open umbrella shields me from rain and keeps me dry and comfortable during a storm.
My smile acts like an umbrella, shielding me from negative feelings and thoughts. When I smile, I am coaching myself to think positive thoughts and have productive ideas. Each smile fills my heart with a warm comfortable feeling that lifts my spirits and give me courage to face any seeming obstacle.
"A happy heart is good medicine and a joyful mind causes healing, But a broken spirit dries up the bones." ~ Proverbs 17:22
Source: The Daily Word for Weight Loss (affiliate link)
In this video Run Gutman shares more about the hidden power of smiling:
More on the Power of Smiling:
- Predicts Longevity
- We were born smiling. Babies continue to smile, mostly in their sleep. If there's any doubt to this, check out this photo of my adorable baby grandson smiling as he slumbers.....
Baby McKinnon Smiling in His Sleep
- Most people smile more than 20 times a day
- Smiling is contagious.
- The act of smiling makes us feel better.
- Smiling stimulates the brain better than chocolate. Chemically speaking, one smile stimulates the human brain the same amount as eating up to 2000 bars of chocolate! Good news for Weight Watchers 🙂
- Smiling makes you healthier.
- Smiling makes you look more attractive and competent.
Source: Forbes
Smile Quotes
"Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy." ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
"We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do." ~ Mother Teresa
"Even if you're unhappy, just pretend that you're happy. Eventually, your smile will be contagious to yourself. I had to learn that. I used to think, 'I'm being fake,' but you know what? Better to be fake and happy than real and miserable." ~ Evangeline Lilly
"A smile is like an instant facelift and an instant mood lift." ~ Christie Brinkley
"A smile is the light in your window that tells others that there is a caring, sharing person inside." ~ Denis Waitley
Wild Orange (affiliate link) Essential Oil
Sniff doTERRA Wild Orange Essential Oil and Smile
One of the easiest ways I know to bring an immediate smile to my face is with a sniff of doTERRA Wild Orange (affiliate link) Essential Oil. As soon as I take off the cap from the little brown bottle and take a whiff I feel the corners of my lips turn upward. I always like to keep a bottle of it close at hand - in my purse or pocket and on my nightstand. It's power is truly magical.
Martha is the founder and main content writer for Simple-Nourished-Living.
A longtime lifetime WW at goal, she is committed to balancing her love of food and desire to stay slim while savoring life and helping others do the same.
She is the author of the Smart Start 28-Day Weight Loss Challenge.
A huge fan of the slow cooker and confessed cookbook addict, when she's not experimenting in the kitchen, you're likely to find Martha on her yoga mat.
You might also like:
- Weekly Weight Loss Devotional: Feeling Good
- Food for Thought: Stop Expecting Perfection with Weight Loss
- Get Happy Lose Weight: The Mind Body Connection that Matters
- Letting Go for Lasting Weight Loss Success
- Why Humility and Kindness are Necessary for Lasting Weight Loss Success
- 7 Steps to a Winning Weight Loss Mindset
This post contains affiliate links to products I like. When you buy something through one of my Amazon links or other (affiliate links), I receive a small commission that helps support this site. Thank you for your purchase!
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Susan Moffett
Hi Martha.
As a loyal supporter of yours, I love your recipes. With those recipes for breads, desserts, etc. have you tried to use a Truvia Or Stevia product to reduce the points? Wondering what your experience has been in this regard?
Thank you for being here for all of us.
Susan Moffett
Appleton, WI
Martha McKinnon
Hi Susan,
I'm just beginning to experiment with Truvia baking blend with some success. This is a combination of stevia, erythritol and sugar. The bag instructions explain how to substitute. 1/2 the amount of sugar called for. I haven't had great success with straight stevia. I find it too bitter for my tastes. I know splenda works well for many folks, but it gives me a terrible headache. Hope this helps. ~Martha