101 Healing Stories for Kids and Teens

lift the corners of our mouth like you did, but when we genuinely smile, we raise the muscles in our
cheeks and around our eyes. I know I’m sounding a bit like a football coach, but come on, let’s get
all those facial muscles working.”
Clary tried again.
“Better,” announced Herman. “Here is your homework: Before you leave your caravan each
morning, sit in front of your mirror and practice a genuine Dr. Duchenne smile.”
Though they saw each other around the circus, neither mentioned the smiling exercise until a
week later, when Herman entered Clary’s caravan after a performance.
“Let’s see that smile,” he said. “How does that feel?”
“Good,” said Clary, with a genuine Dr. Duchenne smile.
“Just as it should do,” announced Herman, confidently. “You see, for a long time scientists
thought that we laugh when we’re happy and cry when we’re sad. But now their research is show-
ing that if you put a smile on your face, you feel happier and if you start to frown, you feel sad. Now,
for the next step, let’s try a laugh.”
They both looked in the mirror again. Clary was showing a genuine smile. “Okay,” said Her-
man, “open your mouth and put one hand on your stomach, the other on your chest and start to
laugh. Notice what it looks like in the mirror. Feel what is happening in your stomach and chest.”
Clary laughed. Hey, it was possible. He could do it.
“This is infectious,” said Herman, laughing with him. When they realized they were laughing
so heartily at nothing, they laughed even louder and more heartily.
Now when Clary paints a smile on his face for the circus, it follows the lines of the Dr. Duchenne
smile that is already there, and his own eyes twinkle with laughter under the painted ones. You see,
Clary is a clown who can help other people laugh... and can laugh himself.

STORY 49

CHANGE YOUR POSTURE, CHANGE YOUR FEELINGS

Therapeutic Characteristics

Problem Addressed

■ Lack of emotional control

Resources Developed

■ Discovering the mind-body relationship

■ Learning to alter feelings

■ Building emotional control

■ Creating emotional choices

■ Facilitating emotional empowerment

Outcomes Offered

■ Emotional control

■ Strategies for change

■ Personal empowerment

MANAGING EMOTIONS

Managing Emotions 135