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Each month a new inspirational,
spiritual, or educational article by Alice McCall is posted.
If
you would like to read past articles,
please follow this link.
December 2009
Laughter: A Good Prescription for
the Holidays!
I recently attended a live comedy show
that provoked laughter from the audience throughout the show. It
dawned on me just how good it felt to laugh for such a long time.
This experience inspired me to research the power of laughter.
My conclusion: Laughter isn’t just fun. It is good
medicine for you, your soul, and your body.
Chances are you spend a lot of time walking around with a stressful
expression on your face. Life can often be hard, but it is also
woefully lacking in laughter. Truth be known, we could all use a lot
more fun in our lives!
Psychologists have found that laughing
at our selves and our problems delivers an empowering sense of
detachment, diminishing the emotional and physical damage
stress can
cause. It provides a physical release for accumulated tension and
helps put a fresh perspective on our troublesome problems. Laughter
puts us back in control of our lives.
There are medical
advantages of laughter as well. In one extensive scientific study,
it was found that laughter could lower heart rates and blood
pressure. There was also an increase in T cell activity, stimulating
the immune system’s response to infected cells. Laughter even
releases feel-good endorphins into our system, and it has been
documented that it helps prevent and diminish panic attacks. Some
hospitals are becoming allies of laughter, providing therapeutic
clowns to interact with the patients.
Okay, by now you get
the message that laughter is good for you. The question becomes,
“How do I get more laughter in my life?”
1. Lighten up! Don’t
take yourself, or your life, so seriously. Take the time to put a
lighthearted spin on things that you would usually interpret as
negative. Give yourself permission to laugh at anything you need to.
2. Make a list of all the things, activities, or situations that
give you a lot of pleasure and make the world seem less serious.
Incorporate one of these into your life each day!
3. Seek out
entertainment that makes you laugh. Think of all the movies you
watched that really gave you a belly laugh or made you laugh until
you cried. Rent or view a least one of these movies each week.
4. Think of the people you know who have a good sense of humor.
Make a commitment to see them more often.
5. Share your
embarrassing moments with other people. Laugh with people when they
laugh.
6. How about animals that make you smile? Spend more
time with those cute furry friends.
7. Practice laughing 5
minutes a day. Fake it until you make it. Buy and listen daily to a
tape of laughter, a laugh box, or a laughing toy.
8. Wear a
smile. It puts you closer to laughing.
9. Laugh at yourself!
Amuse yourself with your own sense of humor.
10. Cultivate
your innate playfulness – let your inner-child out to play! Do at
least one silly, non-conforming thing a day. Be creative with fun,
and make sure you have fun.
The holidays are supposed to be a
time of joy and happiness, yet they often become a time of great
stress and difficulty. I recommend that you bring more laughter into
the holiday season. With laughter, your holiday season will be
filled with happiness, and a sense of lightness and joy!
Contact Alice
to learn how she can help you master this topic - or transform other
health, emotion, and spiritual issues. Free consultations for
all new clients to learn how Alice's work is directly tailored to
address your areas of concern. Don't wait - step onto your Healing
Path today!
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