349distress tolerance Handout 14a   (p. 2 of 2)
7. half- Smile W iTh Willin G han DS W hile you are con Templa TinG a per Son 
you D iSlike or are an Gry W iTh.
••Sit quietly. Breathe and smile a half-smile. Hold your hands open with palms up.
••Imagine the image of the person who has caused you suffering.
••Regard the features you dislike the most or find the most repulsive.
••Try to examine what makes this person happy and what causes suffering in his or her 
daily life.
••Imagine the person’s perceptions; try to see what patterns of thought and reason this person follows.
••Examine what motivates this person’s hopes and actions.
••Finally, consider the person’s consciousness. See whether the person’s views and insights are open and free or not, and whether or not the person has been influenced by any prejudices, narrow-  mindedness, hatred, or anger.
••See whether or not the person is master of him- or herself.
••Continue until you feel compassion rise in your heart like a well filling with fresh water, 
and your anger and resentment disappear. Practice this exercise many times on the same person.
notes/ other times to half-smile and/or form willing hands: