1 00:00:03,440 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of I Heart Radio. 2 00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:13,920 Speaker 1: Good Morning. This is Laura, Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. 3 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:18,160 Speaker 1: Today's tip is to change the mood of everyone around 4 00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:22,480 Speaker 1: you with a simple strategy greet people with a smile. 5 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 1: I was reminded of this strategy recently while reading Audrey 6 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:29,800 Speaker 1: Monkey's book, Happy Campers. Monkey is the director of the 7 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:33,760 Speaker 1: Gold Arrow Camp in California. The vast majority of children 8 00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:37,839 Speaker 1: love summer camp, and in the book Happy Campers, Monkey 9 00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:40,640 Speaker 1: explores the reasons for this and how it can transfer 10 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:44,879 Speaker 1: those lessons to normal home and work life. A key 11 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:50,040 Speaker 1: finding a good camp has a relentlessly positive atmosphere. The 12 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:55,720 Speaker 1: counselors make every child feel welcome, Positive, pure interactions are encouraged, 13 00:00:56,360 --> 00:00:59,000 Speaker 1: and yes, the focus is on fun activities, but even 14 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:01,760 Speaker 1: when people are making up their bunk beds, the focus 15 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:05,480 Speaker 1: is on being upbeat. Not all of life can be 16 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:08,560 Speaker 1: sunshine and rainbows, but Monkey writes in her book that 17 00:01:08,640 --> 00:01:11,560 Speaker 1: being aware of your moods and making a commitment to 18 00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:15,600 Speaker 1: small positive acts can go a long way. I can 19 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:17,399 Speaker 1: feel it when I've sucked the fun out of the 20 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:20,160 Speaker 1: room for my family members because of my own bad mood. 21 00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:25,360 Speaker 1: Monkey writes. Conversely, parents who model positive emotions and interactions 22 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:28,000 Speaker 1: the majority of the time have kids who do the same. 23 00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:32,280 Speaker 1: It starts with a simple smile, and maybe you're not 24 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:35,840 Speaker 1: a natural smiler, but Monkey says that's okay. You can 25 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:38,639 Speaker 1: start the habit by giving your family members a smile 26 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:43,679 Speaker 1: at four specific times. First when you greet them in 27 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:47,600 Speaker 1: the morning to start the day, Second, when you greet 28 00:01:47,640 --> 00:01:49,960 Speaker 1: them after school or work, or any time after not 29 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:53,960 Speaker 1: seeing them for a while. Third, during at least one 30 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:58,520 Speaker 1: conversation when you're looking them in the eyes, And finally 31 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:01,720 Speaker 1: at bedtime when you tuck them in to say good night. 32 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:06,640 Speaker 1: Four smiles a day is not that tough. I'd add 33 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaker 1: that you can do this with other people in your 34 00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:11,800 Speaker 1: life too. If you're ordering coffee or showing your bus 35 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:14,680 Speaker 1: pass to someone every morning, be sure to smile as 36 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:18,960 Speaker 1: you're doing so. Any regulars on your commute can be greeted. Similarly, 37 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:23,240 Speaker 1: the receptionist or security guard at your office deserves a 38 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 1: big smile rather than that hunkered down, pained look some 39 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 1: people have as if they're headed into labor in the 40 00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:33,080 Speaker 1: salt mines for the day. Smile as you say hello 41 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:35,960 Speaker 1: to your colleagues smile when you pay for your lunch 42 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:39,520 Speaker 1: in the cafeteria. You don't actually have to be in 43 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:42,880 Speaker 1: a good mood. This is a two second investment in 44 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:47,080 Speaker 1: limiting the extent of whatever personal rain cloud is following 45 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 1: you around. And you know what, there's always the chance 46 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:54,720 Speaker 1: that that two seconds smile will improve your mood too. 47 00:02:55,520 --> 00:02:58,520 Speaker 1: There's some interesting research finding that when people are asked 48 00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:01,160 Speaker 1: to hold a pen or a pop stick in their 49 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:04,400 Speaker 1: mouths in a way that forces their lips into a smile, 50 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:10,160 Speaker 1: they actually do feel better. And since a smile costs 51 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:14,320 Speaker 1: absolutely nothing, there's really no downside to giving it a try. 52 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 1: So how will you make sure you give your force 53 00:03:17,960 --> 00:03:22,920 Speaker 1: smiles today? More is better, but I'm pretty sure you 54 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:27,640 Speaker 1: can manage four in the meantime. This is Laura. Thanks 55 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:37,560 Speaker 1: for listening, and here's to making the most of our time. Hey, everybody, 56 00:03:37,760 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 1: I'd love to hear from you. You can send me 57 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:43,560 Speaker 1: your tips, your questions, or anything else. Just connect with 58 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 1: me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at Before Breakfast Pod 59 00:03:48,680 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 1: that's b E the number four then breakfast p o D. 60 00:03:53,880 --> 00:03:56,720 Speaker 1: You can also shoot me an email at Before Breakfast 61 00:03:56,800 --> 00:04:00,360 Speaker 1: podcast at iHeart media dot com That Before Breakfast is 62 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:03,120 Speaker 1: spelled out with all the letters. Thanks so much, Should 63 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:11,200 Speaker 1: I look forward to staying in touch. Before Breakfast is 64 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:14,440 Speaker 1: a production of I heart Radio. For more podcasts from 65 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 1: I heart Radio, visit the i heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, 66 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:20,600 Speaker 1: or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.