One surprising thing I learnt recently is that a smiling animal isn’t always happy.

That might sound a bit strange.

So let me explain…

When we see an animal “smiling”, it’s actually just a projection.

It’s the way human brains are wired.

We’re used to our friends and family smiling when they’re happy…

And we look for the same in animals.

So when Chucky the Chihuahua is grinning from ear to ear, he may not be happy…

He might actually be mad that you didn’t take him for a walk this morning.

Anyway, this got me thinking…

I guess the same is true for humans.

I know I smile when I’m not happy...

Like when I’m embarrassed.  Or going along with the crowd.  Or even when I’m feeling pretty miserable.

And I couldn’t help but think of being in the office…

Smiling at my desk.  Smiling at my boss.  Or smiling at my colleagues. 

And even though I had a smile on my face…

I wasn’t usually smiling on the inside.

On the inside I felt stressed, exhausted and unfulfilled.

You see, appearances can be deceiving.  They can mask our true feelings.

And feelings are what really count... 

They help us know what we need and motivate us to take action.

But we've got to be aware of them first…

And I found they weren’t always easy to spot.

When you’re overrunning on a call or rushing to hit a last minute deadline…

You don’t have the time to check in and honestly ask yourself how you’re feeling.

So my suggestion is to make the time. 

Put aside a couple of minute a day to actively notice how you’re feeling.

It’s as simple as asking yourself “How am I feeling today?"...

Or “How do I feel about myself right now?”.

Maybe jot the answer down too.

And then at least you’ll have the awareness... 

And you can decide whether to do something about these feelings or not.

Now, I know what you’re thinking…

We’ve come a long way from Chucky the Chihuahua.

And you’re right!

But it’s an important point.

And with that being said…

I’m going to wrap this up.

Enjoy your day.

- Tom

p.s. Do you have goals at work or in your life where you'd like some support?  Or problems you'd like help solving?  If so, why not book a short call with me?  The link is here.  I'd love to chat.