Emotions are a part of life. Sometimes they are positive, sometimes negative. Positive emotions cause positive, healthy reactions in the body. But, in the city it is common to pick up negative emotions from our work and people. Sometimes they are hard to let go of. These stuck emotions can hurt the organs in our body. For example, excess anger affects the liver negatively. It gives the liver the wrong message to produce more cholesterol.

Practicing in Taoist way, like a Inner Smile and Six Healing Sounds meditation, releases negative emotional energy and stores the positive emotional energy. Meditation (Chi Kung) brings good health to you and might even help you live longer! The Inner Smile and Six Healing Sounds is a powerful internal healing and relaxation meditation.We call this Chi Kung. It means “energy work.” Deep relaxation dissolves physical and mental tensions that can cause energy blockages and unhealthy Chi. The Inner Smile enhances the energy of the organs and glands, our life force in general, and stills and focuses the heart and mind (hsien). It makes us more aware of our body and inner being, because we learn to communicate with our organs, glands, spine, and other specific parts of our body, as well as our soul.

Taoists discovered that consciousness is rooted not only in the brain, but also in the vital organs and in a more subtle sense, in each of the cells. Smiling to the organs and thanking them for the work they do will reawaken the intelligence of the body. We are often so out of touch with the body and emotions that we do not notice inner disharmony developing until it finally manifests itself as a serious illness. Practicing the Inner Smile daily lets us look inside to keep in touch with the state of our inner organs, our Chi, our breath and emotions. We can spot problems at their inception, making it easier to balance the emotions and virtues.

In times of stress and financial catastrophe, DON’T PANIC! Put your hard-earned wealth where it will bring the best returns. It’s time to make a holistic investment in YOU, working to enrich your life from the inside out. The more you invest in your health, the more you’re able to weather any crisis—with a smile!

— Master Mantak Chia