笑門来福 Smile Manifests Luck : Japanese Spirituality for Parents

Surprising Impact of Our Emotions

An epiphany in my life: "Mom is always angry”, my daughter said in a candid moment. At 14 years old, she highlighted a truth that I hadn’t yet acknowledged. Initially, I brushed it off, blaming the pressures of work, household responsibilities, and even my husband’s lack of support. However, upon reflection, I recognized that a series of unfortunate events—losing my job and my daughter struggling with her entrance exam—had been led by this overwhelming negativity.

Wake Up Call for Change

It was during this tumultuous time that I heard an advice by Masanori Kuwana, a well-known spiritual coach in Japan. Surprisingly, Kuwana didn’t always believe in spirituality because he was a chemistry researcher. Yet, he introduced a simple yet profound practice: "Face upward, inhale, and smile, even if there’s nothing fun." This idea of actively choosing joy resonated deeply with me. It struck me that I had become accustomed to an angry facade that affected not just me but my entire family.

Shifting the Energy Within Our Home

Curious about the effects of this practice, I decided to give it a try. I consciously began to cultivate a habit of smiling more, instructing myself to remain positive even during stressful moments. The change didn’t happen overnight, but gradually, a remarkable transformation unfolded. Eventually, my daughter passed her entrance exam of her first choice university, and l passed the audition of a classical music office. Everything started turning around for our family.

It’s a harsh reality that many parents often feel the weight of frustration and anger, which can manifest in our behavior towards our loved ones. However, I learned that by choosing to embrace positivity—no matter how difficult it may seem—we can elevate not just our own mood or frequency but that of our families.

Spititual-Science Journey Forward

The idea that "people don't smile because they are happy, but they smile and happiness comes" highlights the facial feedback hypothesis. According to Journal Of Personality and Social Psychology in 2022, facial feedback impacts how you process other emotional information or makes people think of memories associated with a particular expression and emotion.

It all starts with a single smile. In Japan, an old proverb says” 笑門来福”, translating “ Good luck comes to the gate whose residents are smiling “. A smile is not just a reflection of our current state but a choice that can foster an environment of love, support, and positivity for our families. So, let's face upward, inhale, and smile together—because happiness, as they say, is contagious.