The Filmmaker Fighting Suicide with a Million Smiles

The Filmmaker Fighting Suicide with a Million Smiles

A Million Smiles – The Happiest Book and Photo Exhibition on Earth Filmmaker and founder of A Million Smiles, Mike Worsman has gone from suicidal teenager to global inspiration. A Million Smiles is launching their biggest initiative to date – The Happiest Book and Photo Exhibition on Earth – a very bold and unique Crowd Funding Campaign that will create a world-record and world-first. “We’re inviting people to be part of ‘The Largest and Happiest Photo Exhibition on Earth’ by buying one of our canvas prints – which capture stories and smiles from around the world – and asking their favourite café, shop of community centre to hang it” Worsman explains, “but the coolest ‘world-frst’ thing is we’re also building an app allowing people to register the location of the prints they purchase so other people and travellers can search for and enjoy them, with the aim of soon having an exhibition of more than a million smiles that stretch across every country on Earth.” A global conversation From the Sri Lankan security guard he made famous, to producing the most popular video on Earth featuring His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Worsman has initiated a global conversation about the importance of pursuing those things which truly make us happy – love, purpose, appreciation, family – as opposed to what we’re told makes us happy – money, fame, possessions and power. Launched in 2012, A Million Smiles inspires a world free from suicide, poverty and war, where adults smile as often as kids. To date, A Million Smiles has shared more than 10,000 photos, videos and stories that have reached an audience of more than 25 million people from every country on Earth, including...
Take me back to the village

Take me back to the village

Family life is rewarding but in the early years of having my children I encountered unexpected struggles with daily life. I say unexpected because it was the small things that threw me the most. I found myself constantly reflecting on why the simple things seemed so hard. Millions of people around the world have children and manage to go about their daily lives without too much fuss. What was I doing wrong, what was I failing to see? And every time I answered my own question I always came up with the same outcome – I was missing my village. Living together We’re not meant to live alone or detached. Life works best when we’re surrounded by others – working towards common goals. We’re more content, secure and fulfilled when we’re side by side, sharing the load. And it makes sense. Tasks are easier when there’s a community around you to help out, where you can ask for assistance right when you need it – not tomorrow, not next week or the following month – right then and there, when you need it the most. Everything is easier with a village – cooking communal meals, cleaning up and children happily playing and learning together. And there’s no need to plan ahead for a special catch up with your sibling or bestie – you’ve probably been chatting all day long while going about your daily chores. Yes I’m romanticising a little, but there’s beauty in collective living. And while living in a traditional village is unrealistic for the majority, there are ways we can reclaim the bits that matter, even...
Laughing Out Loud

Laughing Out Loud

I’m not a huge fan of online or text slang and will usually cringe at the sight of LOL (call me old fashioned). But, that aside, what’s behind the popular acronym is something really special. Laughing is both heart-warming and nourishing for the body, mind and soul. Benefits Laughter is a physical activity which creates rhythmical contractions of the diaphragm and other parts of our respiratory systems. That’s a lot of good vibrations spreading throughout our bodies. And there are countless articles and studies verifying the powerful impact of laughter on our health. It’s not only a way to relieve physical tension and stress, it’s known to boost our immune system and release endorphins. These days you can even go to ‘Laughter Yoga’ if you want to take your merriment seriously. Gigglefest Laughter comes easier with others. A good show or funny article may get you chuckling but a decent belly laugh usually comes from being with others. Do you have friends and family who are guaranteed to tickle your funny bone? Make time to see them and give yourself the space and freedom to relax, hang out and giggle. Surround yourself with people and situations that are bound to elicit hearty laughter. It’s a great way to bond with others and strengthen relationships. Some activities are more likely to get the funny juices flowing so book yourself a night out to see a comedian, go bowling, dancing or anything that works for you. Laugh at yourself Take the photo in this article as inspiration – a group of women seeing a photo of themselves for the first time....
How to Say Hello

How to Say Hello

How to Say Hello BODY: When it comes to the number of ways you can greet someone – we’re spoilt for choice. From a tentative ‘hello?’ on the phone to a firm handshake, wide smile, nod of the head, wave of the hand, warm embrace or even a kiss – there’s a myriad of ways. And I’m sure we’ve all experienced first-hand the joy of a beautiful greeting – you know the kind, when someone looks at you, really looks at you, and offers you a genuine smile or says your name in a purposeful way. A heartfelt welcome can really transform your day. But yet despite all of this, something is slipping away from us. A worrying global trend is slowly taking hold, particularly in Western cultures. Loneliness is claimed to be the next big health issue of our times – a greater health risk than even smoking or obesity according to research by the Brigham Young University in the US. It’s not good news. But there is a happy flip side. We can, anyone can, turn this around. All it takes is the commitment to say hello. Brighten up someone’s day It’s a beautiful thing to have someone greet you warmly and snap you out of your lost lonely thoughts. It reminds you of your connection to the people and places around you and subconsciously reaffirms you are not alone. The value in greeting and acknowledging each other is increasingly vital as we trend towards single living and increased use of technology. Some argue that online social forums help combat loneliness but research suggests the substitution of...
“What Makes You Happy?”

“What Makes You Happy?”

A question of happiness What makes you happy?  A random fellow traveller asked me this question when we recently crossed paths in Myanmar.    It was a question I have asked myself at regular intervals throughout my life, sometimes by volition and sometimes not. CBT The question certainly arose involuntarily when I suffered stress related anxiety attacks in my late twenties. My answer was to launch myself into my career, sport, modern Western psychology (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), various ancient Indo spiritual practices and ‘new age’ philosophies.  All contributed in varying degrees to my well being. Drugs The question arose again in my early forties with full blown depression.  Having attained a solid personal and social support network and a certain amount of professional and financial success, I found myself having to manage my ‘happiness’ with prescribed drugs. After many years of stability, I had no sooner concluded that ‘there is no more to life than physical existence and that the human being is only a bio-chemical entity’[i]  when I was whacked again by another bout of depression.  Not keen to up my dosage, I was again drawn to trying various alternative remedies (elimination diet, dietary supplements, various forms of energy healing etc). Then came yoga… I had been practising hatha yoga for a number of years by then – drawn to the activity primarily to maintain strength and flexibility in my aging body.  As I had previously noticed in my sporting days, I came out of physical activity with a greater sense of well being and had some inkling then of the benefit of taking time out, albeit in a...
Dalai Lama’s secrets to happiness

Dalai Lama’s secrets to happiness

While I’ve heard the Dalai Lama speak a number of times, and have made several short films about his views, including the ‘Dalai Lama’s guide to happiness’, what sticks in my mind most relates to a story his friend Dr Allen Wallace revealed to us, and the Dalai’s explanation. Discussing emotions amongst a panel of scientists, the Dalai was asked how he maintained such a happy outlook and if in fact he ever got angry or sad. “I am (a) normal human being, I think we (all) feel anger, otherwise I would appear in space, like an angel,” laughed His Holiness in response. Dr Wallace, a leading Buddhist Scholar who has traveled extensively with the Dalai, said he had often comforted His Holiness and even held him weeping in his arms. The Dalai said that all emotions, even anger, sadness and fear, can all be a positive and lead to greater happiness if we approach them in the right way – with compassion. “I think sadness, with valid reasons, that’s good. That may bring enthusiasm to overcome that thing which is causing sadness,” he said. “If sadness can bring that kind of enthusiasm and determination then that sadness is good.” There are a growing number of reality TV shows that support this idea. When it comes to ‘positive’ anger, the former Tibetan leader said this can be a powerful driving force in helping us to show compassion to those we care for enough to confront about their problems. “When you have sincere concern for other’s wellbeing and that being (is) going in the wrong direction, and out of a genuine sense of concern for that person and the circumstances (don’t allow for) any other alternative,sometimes...