Happiness Principle #6:
Laughter and Playfulness
One of the mottos I do my best to live by is that if it’s going to be funny later, it may as well be funny now. This isn’t the easiest adage to live by, but one that serves me well. What I have learned is that it is best to express my emotions whether that means crying my tears, articulating my anger, or writing down intense emotions as a way of helping them to resolve into completion. But once the expression feels complete, it’s best to regain a sense of humor.
Emotions come and go. They don’t all have to be understood or deeply analyzed. Sometimes emotions just need the healing power of release. While talking things out often works as an effective release, so does laughter. Sometimes all we need to do to feel better is let go our tendency to cling tightly to our usual coping strategy, and fall into some compassionate laughter. Life isn’t as completely serious as we sometimes make it out to be.
Often, people hold onto difficult emotions such as anger, sadness, and fear, rather than expressing them. While that may seem like an effective strategy on the surface, in reality pushing down emotions creates stuck energy which limits our happiness and joy. Emotions require expression and release. In addition to highly effective release methods such as crying, conscious breathing, talking to someone, or journaling, one of the best ways to get that stuck energy moving is laughter. Playfulness, laughter, and even singing and dancing are exceptionally effective ways to release the energy of emotions. Getting your body moving in a lighthearted way is exceptionally healing.
Need a few more reasons to laugh? Laughter is an internal stress reliever. It involves the diaphragm, thorax, abdomen, heart and the lungs. The muscles in these structures and organs tighten and relax rhythmically, helping to pump blood and release the natural pain killer endorphins in the process. After a good belly laugh, the sensation remaining is tranquility. Humor raises us above our fears, discouragement and despair. Humor helps us cope.
How much do you laugh during the day? Do you take your life, your body, your illness or injury so seriously that there is no room for joy to fill you? If so, put yourself on a laughter and lightness diet. Figure out what makes you laugh and do it (or read it or watch it) more often. Surround yourself with funny people—be with them every chance you get. Develop your own sense of humor and be funny every chance you get, as long as it’s not at someone else’s expense. Learn to juggle. Go to photo booth and shoot a series of ridiculous face. Or the next time you upset or stressed out go to a funny movie or a comedy club, so you can laugh the upsetting emotions away.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I love this post! It reminds us that laughter is the best medicine. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say that they don’t like to laugh. People hate depression, they hate anger, they hate hurt feeling but one thing I think we all have in common is that we love laughter.
Thanks for sharing!!
Jarrod@ Optimistic Journey´s last blog ..Are You In Indifference Mode?
Hi Jarrod,
Thanks once again for sharing your joy and your joyful comments with us!
Research has shown that the mere physical act of smiling, without actually feeling like it, triggers internal biological reactions that stimulate emotions and contribute to a better mood – in you and others.
In other words, when you feel down, fake a big smile and you will lighten up automatically. Of course genuine smiling or laughter feels even better, so here’s a little joke:
Every ten years, the monks in the monastery are allowed to break their vow of silence to speak two words. Ten years go by and it’s one monk’s first chance. He thinks for a second before saying, “Food bad.”
Ten years later, he says, “Bed hard.”
It’s the big day, a decade later. He gives the head monk a long stare and says, “I quit.”
“I’m not surprised,” the head monk says. “You’ve been complaining ever since you got here.”
I do think laughing is something that we don’t do enough. And life can become so stressful (if you let it) that you feel more of the other emotions instead of the ones that make you feel good. I am going to make a point of reading the funny comic strips in the paper each morning! Thanks Karla.
Karla´s last blog ..Champion c9 Cardio Jacket
Hi Karla,
What an awesome way to being your morning–by laughing with the comics from the paper. I hadn’t thought of that approach. It’s a good one!
Your comment reminded me that when I was a child, sick in bed, my girlfriend would lend me her comic books and I would read them all day long. Those comics definitely made me feel better.
The other day my husband (who is naturally goodheartedly funny all the time) said to me that as we grow old together his sexiness may fade, but his humor never will. To me, he’ll always be sexy. His humor is an added bonus that I am eternally grateful for.
Thanks again Karla for writing and sharing your ideas with us.