#120

Welcome to Weekly Whisper #120.

Do you smile because you are happy or are you happy because you smile?

Take a listen to Olu (by clicking here), she might provide some insight for you.

There are some fantastic short films in Nic Askew’s library. I’ve been a subscriber for a number of years now.

Check them out here: Soul-Biographies-Library

 
Even a fake smile can work wonders

CNBC Make It, Health & Wellness - This simple tactic can ‘trick’ your brain into feeling happier

NBC News BETTER By Today - Smiling can trick your brain into happiness — and boost your health

University of South Australia - When you’re smiling, the whole world really does smile with you

Question of the week:
Do you smile because you are happy or are you happy because you smile?

In my lived experience – it doesn’t matter. Sometimes a forced smile will make me feel better momentarily.

Sometimes a spontaneous smile will last longer.

Sometimes a genuine smile will allow a deeper connection with someone else.

Either way, smile when you’re happy and be happy when you smile.

 
Quote of the week:
A smile is the shortest distance between 2 people - Victor Borge

It still amazes me that people seem to forget to smile online.

When I’m attending an online meeting or running a webinar my default response is to smile, then I’ll work out the tech.

It’s astonishing that many people seem to do the opposite – they’ll search for the unmute button then engage with the people on the screen.

Try the opposite. Engage first, then fix the tech.

 
NEW RELEASE
Freedom Fridays Podcast Episode 78 Featuring Steve Ellis

In Episode 78 Pete chats to Steve Ellis, a long-time friend and colleague who works in the same leadership and change space.

Most will have heard the expression “the cobblers shoes”. Apparently, it derives from an old Spanish proverb which roughly translates to 'the cobbler's children have no shoes'. This means that someone with a specific skill (e.g. leadership and change) is often so busy assisting others that their own affairs (e.g. leadership and change) go unattended.

The reason this is so relevant to the conversation is that Steve had a significant health scare recently and had to change his behaviour significantly. Being a leadership and change expert ‘that should be easy'…said no-one!

Pete and Steve dive into the classic ways to change our behaviours and share some polar opposite distinctions about what worked and didn’t work for Steve going through his lived experience of changing his own behaviour.

If you or anyone you know needs to change behaviour then this is a must listen.

       

             

That's all for this week. If you’ve been enjoying the Weekly Whispers please feel free to forward it to friends and anyone you think would benefit.

As always, email me at [email protected] to share your feedback or to let me know your thoughts.

Cheers

Pete