Your smile will give you a positive countenance that will make

Hear the words of Les Brown, the great orator of hope, who proclaimed: “Your smile will give you a positive countenance that will make people feel comfortable around you.” In this saying, he reveals a secret that is both ancient and eternal—that the human face, when illuminated by joy, becomes a beacon of peace to all who behold it. A smile is more than the turning of lips; it is the unveiling of the soul’s warmth, a silent proclamation that says: “You are safe here. You are welcome.”

The ancients knew the power of the countenance. They spoke often of the eyes as the windows of the soul, and of the face as the mirror of the heart. A positive countenance does not arise from adornment or artifice, but from the inner disposition of the spirit. When the heart is heavy with bitterness, the face reveals it. But when the heart is light with kindness and gratitude, the smile flows naturally, lifting not only the one who bears it but also all who cross their path. Thus, Les Brown speaks with the wisdom of the ages: to wear a smile is to become a vessel of harmony, spreading unseen comfort into the world.

Consider the life of Abraham Lincoln. It is said that when choosing generals, he not only judged their competence in war but also the look upon their faces. A dour, hardened man might command armies, but a leader with a positive countenance, who could inspire trust and comfort in his soldiers, carried greater power than strategy alone. Lincoln himself, though burdened by the weight of a nation at war, often greeted even his adversaries with a smile, softening hearts where anger might have prevailed. In this way, the face became a weapon of peace, more persuasive than the sword.

The story of Mother Teresa also shines as an example. Among the dying and the destitute of Calcutta, her most powerful gift was not wealth nor authority, but her smile. With a countenance radiant in love, she entered the darkest alleys and made people feel comfortable even as they faced despair. Her smile told them: “You are not forgotten. You are loved.” That small gesture, which cost her nothing, transformed countless souls and reminded the world that sometimes the greatest act of charity is not gold or bread, but the light of compassion on a human face.

From these examples we see that the smile is not weakness, but strength. It disarms hostility, bridges divides, and opens hearts that would otherwise remain closed. To walk with a positive countenance is to carry a silent invitation to peace. The world is filled with storms of anger, fear, and mistrust, but the one who meets these storms with the calm brightness of a smile becomes like a lighthouse upon a rocky coast—guiding others, steadying them, helping them feel that they, too, may find safe harbor.

The lesson is clear: cultivate your smile, not as an empty mask, but as an outward sign of inward harmony. Let it be born of sincerity, kindness, and love. Practice it daily, for even in times of sorrow, a gentle smile can strengthen both yourself and others. When you meet strangers, greet them with warmth; when you meet friends, remind them of your joy in their presence. In doing so, you shape not only how others perceive you but also how they feel within themselves.

Practical actions are within everyone’s reach: stand before the mirror and train your face to reflect gratitude rather than complaint. Consciously meet the eyes of others with gentleness. In moments of tension, offer a smile to ease the burden. Teach children the power of the smile, for in such small habits are nations healed and generations uplifted.

Thus let this wisdom endure: “Your smile will give you a positive countenance that will make people feel comfortable around you.” The ancients would have called this a virtue, the moderns call it charisma, but its essence is the same. A single smile, offered in sincerity, has the power to change the course of a day, to mend the wounds of a heart, and to remind the world that even amidst struggle, light still shines.