Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes

Hear the words of Thich Nhat Hanh, the gentle sage of mindfulness: “Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.” In these few lines lies a wisdom that pierces the veil of ordinary living. It tells us that the smile is not merely the echo of happiness, but also its fountain. At times, the heart swells with gladness, and the smile bursts forth naturally like spring water. Yet at other times, when the heart lies heavy, the act of smiling itself becomes a key that unlocks the hidden chambers of joy within.

The ancients often taught that the body and the spirit are mirrors of one another. The movements of the face, the posture of the body, the rhythm of the breath—these do not only express the state of the soul, they also shape it. Thus, to lift the corners of the lips is not mere decoration, but an offering to the heart, a signal that life is still worth delighting in. In this way, the smile becomes both messenger and creator of joy.

History offers many who discovered this truth. Consider the great President Abraham Lincoln, who bore the immense sorrow of a divided nation. His eyes were often shadowed, his shoulders bent by grief. Yet those who knew him said he loved to tell humorous stories, and when he smiled, the room was transformed. His smile, even in the midst of suffering, became the source of courage and calm—not only for himself, but for all who followed him. He did not wait for joy to arrive before smiling; he used his smile to call joy forth.

Thich Nhat Hanh’s words also remind us of the discipline of mindfulness. When we are mindful, even the simplest act—a breath, a step, a smile—can become a seed of peace. The monks of old, though living with few possessions, were often described as radiant, smiling gently as they walked barefoot upon the earth. Their joy was not always the cause of their smiles. Rather, their smiles summoned joy, spreading ripples of calm to all who looked upon them.

This teaching speaks to the heart of all who despair. For there are times when sorrow blinds us, when joy seems distant, unreachable. In such moments, the teaching says: begin with the smallest act. Let your face soften, let a smile arise—not false, not forced, but chosen as an act of faith. In time, the heart responds, and joy follows where once there was only heaviness. The smile is like a lantern lit in the darkness: first small, then glowing, then powerful enough to drive shadows away.

The lesson for us is clear. Do not wait passively for happiness to come. Do not imagine that joy must precede all outward expression. Sometimes it is the smile itself that opens the door, that beckons joy into the heart. In practice, when you wake in the morning, smile—not because life is perfect, but because you are alive. When you feel weary, smile at a stranger, and notice how their spirit lifts, and with it your own. Let the act of smiling become a daily ritual, a gentle rebellion against despair.

The story of Viktor Frankl in the concentration camps of the Second World War shines as testimony. Surrounded by suffering, he wrote that those who found meaning, even in small acts of humanity, could endure the darkest nights. A smile, a kind word, a gesture of courage—these were sparks that kept the flame of the human spirit alive. The smile, even amidst horror, became a source of joy, a reminder that the oppressor could not extinguish the inner freedom of the soul.

Thus, Thich Nhat Hanh’s words are not merely gentle counsel, but a call to arms for the spirit: smile, for in smiling you may summon joy itself. Let this be our teaching to those who come after us. When joy overflows, let it spill forth in your smile. But when joy is scarce, let the smile be the seed from which joy grows. In this way, we are never powerless, for we hold in our very faces the key to the renewal of the heart.