Is Laughter Actually The Best Medicine?

It sure is!  And I for one enjoy a good laugh and you feel really good after a good ole belly laugh.

We need three things to help enhance our lives: laughter, humour and playfulness!

Having a laugh rapidly grounds the mind and body so that you become more balanced and centred.  Humour adds so much to our lives.  It connects us with others, improves our mood when we feel down and believe it or not, it also improves our health. Being playful allows us to be less serious.  As kids, we laughed a lot, we laughed so much our cheeks and sides would ache, we sometimes laughed until we cried. Unfortunately, as we get older, life gets more serious and we have a tendency to become more serious and as a consequence we lose that wonderful playful side of us and that fun filled laughter lessens.  How long has it been since you had a really good belly laugh where you’ve completely forgotten everything else, distracted and were just in the moment?

It’s like night and day in regard to how laughing can make you feel.  One minute you can feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders, feeling gloomy and in another minute, you can feel happy, uplifted and light. 

Laughter is a great distraction to shock you out of the pothole of feeling down.

Laughter is contagious. Ever hear one of those contraptions where it just laughed and laughed and laughed hysterically and you couldn’t help yourself but join in on the laughter? It’s like that when other people are laughing, it’s so easily to join in.

One of the best things about laughter is that is doesn’t cost you a thing! Completely free! It may take a bit of effort to begin with when you feel down but after a while you may find that you’ll just slip into an uplifted mood and start to smile and then…. start to have a laugh or giggle!

The mind cannot do two conflicting emotions at the same time.  It cannot do anxiety/depression/anger/sad and relaxed/happy/laugh at the same time.  You can choose what state you want to be in and if you’ve been feeling low for some time, you sometimes you have to fake it to you make it.  Having said that, it’s important to know it’s ok to not feel okay… just don’t live there!

Laughter can be like a stack of dominos all lined up, leaning against one another and all it takes is just one tile to tip and then there’s a ripple effect of all the tiles.  Like the ripple of the tiles, so does the ripple of laughter and its ongoing effects to heal. 

Healing effects of laughter

It works!

Healing effects of laughter

Laughter is a potent natural medicine as it releases serotonin, the same chemical affected by most common anti-depressants.  It’s why in clinical practice we ask our clients to watch funny movies, play with a pet, remember funny times, get out and do fun things as it releases serotonin and feel-good chemicals! Feel good chemicals (re; endorphins) enhance overall well-being and can even reduce pain!

Laughter protects the heart and blood vessels from the damaging effects of cardiovascular disease.  Stress increases inflammation in the heart so laughter can lessen the effects of stress in the body.

Laughter helps you relax, recharge and get a better perspective on situations.

Laughter boosts your immune system! How you ask!  Well, it decreases the stress hormones and increases antibodies and immune cells.

When we laugh our mood changes, we experience more joy and we become more resilient to life’s challenges.  It can even attract others to us, enhance our relationships, teamwork and can also help diffuse conflict.

How do I become more happy?

·       Smile! Just like laughter it is contagious.

·       Watch your body posture – check if your shoulders are up and back, diaphragm is lifted, chin is up.  Once your body is in a more resourceful position, you’ll find your mood will immediately change.  For example, do this:

o   Slouch, lower your head and chin down… how does that feel?? 

o   In contrast – lift your head up, chin up, lift your shoulders up and back, diaphragm lifted, your core immediately lifts too!  Feels much better too doesn’t it… even if you don’t feel joyful.

Act as If you’re already experiencing that feeling – and your mind/mood will follow!  

·       Write down three things each day that you feel grateful for.

·       Spend time with positive and funny people.

·       When conversing with others, bring up something funny that’s happened.

·       Play with the kids.

·       Play with your pets.

·       Go do things you enjoy eg; bowling, horse riding, golfing, gardening, and dare I say it… yes even karaoke!

·       Watch something funny on TV, YouTube…

·       Read funny books, magazines, comics and so on.

·       Get out in the sunshine for a while!

So now you know that laughter IS the best medicine!

If you’ve been feeling low and found you’ve lost your ‘laugh’, make a start and just do something.  Start off small and build upon it.

Remember it’s okay not to feel okay – sit with the feelings… just don’t live there.  Get out, lift up, smile and laugh to your hearts content – get your playfulness back, that inner child is just waiting for you to embrace life again!

We can conduct sessions face-to-face at my clinic or online in the comfort of your own home. Either way, hypnosis can help you live the life you want!

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