One smile can start a friendship. One word can end a fight. One look can save a relationship. One person can change your life.
One smile can start a friendship. One word can end a fight. One look can save a relationship. One person can change your life.
The power of one is so immense at times, it is often overlooked in the majestically large scheme of things.
Yet, truly, the power of one is so important and so iconic in our myths, legends and lore, as to be the most important number of them all.
All of the core religions speak of an individual whose sagely presence created the essence of a belief system that carries thousands of years into the future.
In our own personal lives, we sense this repeatedly. Take your oldest and most dear friend, and see if you can flash back to one of your earliest memories of them and see if you can conjure an image of them smiling at you. Take a real moment in this experience and try to relate to how warm that smile appears now, and how much you value their presence in your life.
We have all been in one of those fights that is borderline allowing a relationship of magnitude to fall apart. The two parties edge ever closer to the precipice from which there is no return. Both hearts are heavy as they progress towards the abyss… and then one of the two looks at the other, recognizing the enormous loss that is hanging in the balance, and then finds the right word to say that defuses the entire dynamic and enables the healing to genuinely begin.
As our lives progress, we encounter that one particular person whose presence, knowledge, experience, position, intelligence or reach is the determining factor that can escalate our opportunity in life to progress ever closer to the goals we have envisioned for ourselves.
So, given the tremendous power of one, does it not make sense for us to practice regularly the skills to be that one in our dynamics in life? If we may be the one to venture the first smile, it is such a simple task, yet it carries a significant value to the recipient. A smile means everything to one who have none left to give. If you doubt this, the next time you go shopping in the supermarket, make it a point to smile genuinely at everyone you encounter in the aisles. Watch how contagious your smile can be. I do this regularly, and sometimes, I get a return smile from a sour face that lights up like a Christmas tree just because I took the time to smile at them and because my smile comes from the heart.
If you are in a fight with a friend, colleague or spouse, and the situation is spiraling out of control, I would highly advise you to pause right in the middle of the argument and look at that person and remember how and why they are important to you. In that unlikely pause, they will see in your eyes that something has just changed. The dynamic between you both will reflect that. Then offer a word of kindness and smile from the heart when you do that. Even if it does not impact them immediately, it has been noticed. Just allow time for it to work its magic.
And lastly, if you can be the person to help another improve their life, would it not make tremendous sense to extend an opportunity on their behalf? If you know how much it may mean to them, are you not the wealthier for having gone the extra mile?
Life is short. Be generous!
Happy Tuesday!
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