The SMILE™ approach fosters self-discovery and grief transformation by creating a safe, judgment-free space for individuals to connect with their hearts and express deep emotions. The 10-hour SMILE™ training focuses on five key areas:
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S: Story – Encourages vulnerability, self-awareness, heart-centered communication, and active listening.
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M: Mindfulness – Teaches breathwork, mindfulness, self-compassion, and meditation techniques.
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I: Ignite Your Heart – Guides exploration of strengths, purpose, and meaning.
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L: Let Go – Offers research-based grief transformation practices, boundary-setting, and releasing self-criticism.
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E: Embrace Your WHOLE Self – Emphasizes gratitude, joy, awe, and living in the present.
SMILE™ supports emotional transformation by helping individuals move through grief with actionable self-leadership skills, fostering balance, calming the nervous system, and building a heart-to-heart connection for emotional well-being and belonging.
SMILE™: Self and Social-Awareness Training Program
SMILE™
Approach
99% Participants "Agreed" to "Strongly Agreed"SMILE™ training would benefit their personal and professional well-being.The materials and exercises were practical, intuitive, and helpful.
This is a story filled with truth telling, heart healing, and discovering that life and love come from within the heart’s center: The soul.
Kim Buehler Jones lost her dad when she was in her twenties. She did all she knew to heal her broken heart. She kept busy, grieved alone, stayed strong for others, and expected that time would heal all wounds. It didn’t. Her heart only grew heavier as life rolled on: infertility, adoption, children with invisible disabilities, career changes, self-doubt, several more deaths of loved ones, an empty nest, and, finally, the pandemic and its aftermath. Grief built up in layers. It was only when she learned to open up her heart that she could heal.
Open Up Your Soul’s SMILE™ is Jones’ truthful story implementing the holistic SMILE™ approach to self discovery and grief recovery. It's a shift in a mind-centered view of the world to a heart-centered one. It's the path to a life filled with compassion, happiness, gratitude, joy, fulfillment, hope, purpose and love.
Join Kim on her SMILE™ journey because happiness and success takes much more than shifting one’s mindset. It requires a balance between the heart and mind.
About Kim
Discover Your Heart's Story with the SMILE™ Approach: A Journey of Transformation
100% of participants Agreed or Strongly Agreed to the following statements:
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SMILE™ training met my expectations.
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SMILE™ training will benefit me in my personal life.
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SMILE™ training will benefit me in the classroom/school environment.
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What I learned today will benefit my well-being.
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I found the SMILE™ materials and exercises practical, intuitive, and helpful.
This was the best training I have had in my 37 years of teaching. I’m thankful to have attended this SMILE™ training/coaching with Kim.
Participating in SMILE™ offers you a chance to pause and reflect on your overall well-being. Life is stressful and SMILE™ provides ways to check in with yourself and learn strategies to find calm and peace in a demanding world.
Keep doing this-so many would benefit from this training and puts importance on mental health.
One of the most enjoyable training/coaching I’ve ever had. The amount of tips, tricks and insight she gave me was amazing.
The SMILE™ program guided me as a school counselor and supported my personal growth and healing. After completing the sessions, I was energized to connect with my students and discovered the impact unresolved grief had on my well-being. Everyone could benefit from Kim's SMILE™ program—she’s a beautiful soul, a brilliant guide, and a true source of support. I’m so grateful for the courage and health she’s brought into my life!
Caroline, Reading Specialist
"Participating in SMILE™ offers you a chance to pause and reflect on your overall well-being. Life is stressful and SMILE™ provides ways to check in with yourself and learn strategies to find calm and peace in a demanding world."
Becky, School Counselor
"The SMILE™ program not only helped guide me as a school counselor but also helped foster my personal growth and healing as well. After completing the SMILE™ sessions, I felt energized to get to know my students, their stories, and how I could help advocate for their academic, social, and emotional needs. While also discovering my own need to heal from my unresolved grief, and the impact it had on preventing me from being the most healthy socially, emotionally, and physically that I could be. Everyone could benefit from Kim's SMILE™ program and knowing her. She is a beautiful soul, a heart with ears, and a brilliant keeper of knowledge. I can't thank her enough for the courage and health she has given my life!"
Laura, 40 Year Veteran Teacher
"I was doubting Thomas when I first heard about SMILE. I thought there was no way I could talk about my personal life/feeling to anyone. I am a private person, that is my business, but I was wrong. Going through the sessions I found it was helping me handle situations/moments in my life, understanding there are ways to heal through activities, breathing techniques, and listening to others. I started to feel less intrusive to open up and share some of what I was feeling. Thank You!"
Kim, Effectiveness Coach
"SMILE™ was a great experience for me! The activities Kim shared and facilitated during our time together allowed me to look more closely at myself, my personal habits and my professional practices. During my three hours of 1:1 coaching, Kim helped me refine my interactions with staff and students at my school in ways that facilitate connection rather than control. Every person within the SMILE™ family has different goals, concerns and areas in their lives or profession that lend themselves to serious growth potential. No matter where your journey to self-discovery and growth take you, Kim will walk the path side by side with you! "