Relish the moment and smile...

"Hold your breath, make a wish, count to three", Reader,

This is my favourite line from one of my favourite childhood films – Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Here's the clip in question (in case you've never seen it):

(Or click the direct link here).

Ahead of the big reveal, "Hold your breath, make a wish, count to three" was Willy Wonka's invitation to the children and their families to pause before they step into the magic in front of them.

When was the last time you did exactly that?

This was an invitation I put to myself last autumn:

Relish the moment and smile

I don't consider myself to be a grump, but I am mindful that my face doesn't always exude the positivity I'm feeling.

Maybe it's because I'm naturally an introvert.
Maybe it's RBF.

An example...

Back in October, I played two gigs over two nights. The first show was a corker. Two sets with two different bands – both were new to me. I loved every second. I just hadn't told my face (I was concentrating. I didn't want to let anyone down).

I watched videos back the following morning and spotted the gap between how I was feeling and how I was looking...

The second night, I concentrated less.

I intentionally existed in the moment
I looked up (not down)
I noticed the faces in the audience
I smiled

Well, that was unexpected

There is a neuro-chemical explanation as to what happened next, but in its simplest terms, I sat up taller and I played better.

And so, the ripple effect began:

The band played better
The audience danced more
I smiled more
I played better
... you get the picture

Guess which gig I relished more?

That small adjustment in mental focus made a measurable physical difference. And not just for me.

All it took was a brief pause, an acknowledgement, and a smile.

There's a great blog about this very phenomenon by the Art of Brilliance that is worth a read.

Wherever you find yourself as this lands in your inbox this morning, what difference would it make to your day if you 'relished the moment and smiled'?

What difference would it make to the people you are about to spend your day with?

Be a bit more Wonka, I double-dare you.