Hollywood's stars do it so why shouldn't you? It's those subtle facial feature controls that allow big screen actors to alter moods on those close ups. A slight uplifting of the lip here can turn a dull or neutral face into a sly, subtle, sexy look.

Controlling facial features to alter moods seems rather simple. We've been doing it since birth. But most of has have worn the "faces" that feel most natural - without recognizing that by improving the message our face gives we can change how we interact and how people feel about us.

I recommend going into the mirror and looking at your "set" face. And decide if you like what it says about you. Look at your face as an instrument to influence emotion rather than the product of your emotions. This shifts the focus away from showing you feel, to feeling how you show.

The benefits to this exercise are three fold.

1) You influence social situations in a most positive way when you introduce a subtle smile when you talk or interact. (People tend to mirror your facial features, and are more apt to crack jokes, say hello, or feel good while talking to you - even though they are not sure why.)

2) As you focus on maintaining a smile on your face consciously, you actually influence your mind to feel amused or slightly entertained through out the day. Every time you look at your face you'll have a slight smile on your face, which will make you feel good and more attractive. So the affects build up.

3) You are more conscious moment by moment throughout the day, which is helpful in controlling your mental states as well.

You can play with the faces you wear by writing down a list of emotions. And not just emotions but a range of emotions. Very angry, angry, slightly angry, playful angry, very happy, happy, slightly happy, friendly happy, sexy happy, playful happy.

This exercise should open your perspective up to the power of facial instrument. It's the fastest way to influence physical circumstances and social interactions around you. I used to think that if I meditated, relaxed, and felt really good on the inside, it would just show on the outside. I was a little ignorant to my purpose. The mental changes are great - and necessary. But physical controls are also necessary. Thus this exercise.

Of course there are other vital external factors to the kind of message you put off like your posture, your clothes, etc. But this is a good starting place for external change. As much as we'd like to altruistically think we are beyond judgment - we are always being judged. And as pure as our hearts may be, at times we judge. Even if its nothing more than a judgment of time investment with a person, we are judging the value of our time and there's nothing wrong with that.

Take a careful look as to the kind of message you are giving off. Before you upgrade your car, upgrade your house - upgrade your mind, spirit, your body and everything that is an extension of your physical body.

On that final note, don't allow yourself to become shallowly obsessed about how you look. Your physical body is an instrument for your message to the physical world. It is not an idol to be worshipped or obsessed over.

This article is part of the James Rick Daily Vitamin by James Rick, a daily blog that merges our understanding of spirit with the physical world. James Rick is author of Full Potential, a revolutionary guide to mastering your life in stages. He is also a motivational speaker, entrepreneur, and CEO of two international ventures.

More can be learned at JamesRick.com

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