It is better to be rich and healthy than miserable and poor!

We have probably all heard this joke-statement, - its content being obvious into absurdum.

Not to be forgotten though, the meaning of richness can be viewed differently. One can be rich in goods, and one can be rich in friends.

If you are content, if you are loved, you may very well consider yourself rich even if the bank-account runs dry every now and then.

So what about this talk about expansion vs contraction?

Sometimes I fail to recognize my own richness and I submit to a state of doubt and worry. And what's worse, I don't even recognize it, - I don't know how and when I got there, and I don't know how to get out. I just accept it as a matter of fact of life.

At such moments I am helped by remembering the thesis about expansion vs contraction and I start to expand myself, - my mind and my body. And they respond, - both my mind an body responds.

And I see possibilities again.

I don´t like doubt and worry, - it makes me contracted.

I like expansion, - expanding my mind and my body, expanding my thoughts and my beliefs.

And listen to this, - as I heard a master say, - "when you smile your face relaxes".

And it's true, when we smile, especially when the smile is warm and relaxed, - our face-muscles gets restfull. Smiling naturally brings peace. And expansion!

One might think that a neutral face-expression should be the more relaxing, - but it seems, - and feels, - that a gentle and warm smile is more relaxing than neutrality, - that it is an even more relaxed state. Try it - you'll be surprised!

The picture depicts Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder and leader of the Art of Living organisation, which is an NGO that helps people to grow in personal health, richness, smiles and joy, in more than 150 countries.