Laugh It Off!

Laugh It Off!

©Allen Merritt (2015)

The sign read, “I’d rather be laughing.” My first and immediate reaction was how I couldn’t agree more.

Earlier this year I wrote about Yoga Laughter as a means of opening up to a positive environment. This week I want to expand on the idea of the importance of a little laughter in our lives. Can’t get enough of it! And, sometimes, it serves as a Godsend during a trying time. In fact, the last couple of days have put me in a place to deal with some emotional drama which decided to rear its ugly face. Things happen! When they do, I feel them. It’s only human to do so. I allow myself to feel those emotions and then I search for ways to release the negatives.

If I don’t find a way to release the negatives, then I can be bound by them in such a way as to not accomplish anything, which bugs me even more. I like knowing I am working toward a purpose and achieving some accomplishments. It’s also about self-preservation.

Needless-too-say, having an emotional day or two and working on finding solutions to a problem comes back to a little laughter. Even some of the best dramatic scenarios in movies are best played out by using humor to release tension so everyone can catch a breath.

I would like to share how I moved through the emotion to release the negatives. After being overcome by the situation, I experienced it, brought awareness into it and embraced it for what it was in the moment. Emotions come and go, so I can rely on getting beyond temporary soon enough. No need to wallow for too long, sit deeply into sadness or practice any “Whoa is me.”

I got off my hind-end and took a little drive to see the world around me without engaging in it. I spoke to a friend and confidant on the phone, which is always good. Then I got my silly on by dividing my beard in half and then again into two sets of three one on the left and one on the right. I proceeded to braid each side to see what it would look like. After I finished doing this, I looked in the mirror and burst out laughing. I was so amused by it that I took a selfie and posted in on social media calling it my Pippi-Beard-Stocking. Yes, I needed the laugh. And, it made a difference. Resilience is something that can be nurtured and this experience is an example of its progression.

So that’s my story and I am sticking to it.

Ultimately, this illustration of my personal story demonstrates how humor and/or laughter can enhance the positive and neutralizes the negative.¹ There are also many physical, emotional, cognitive and social benefits such as reducing pain, stress anxiety and depression while increasing creativity, memory and relaxation.¹ & ²

On that note, I recently watched a video documentary about some traditions in Varanasi, India.³ One early morning ritual was to get up, go out near the river and practice yoga, stretching and breathing exercises before the day officially began. At the end of the session the people would let out several deep guttural laughs at the sun, as if they were laughing in the face of the sun and at all potential adversity. I liked that. Made sense to me. 

In conclusion, I believe it’s great to laugh. I love hearing it; experiencing it and watching others do it, too. Let’s call it a positive phenomenon that needs no explanation, but does occasionally need some encouragement. Consider this a little reminder. Don’t forget to laugh a little.

And, don’t hesitate to pass it on!

Share a funny moment.

Tell a joke.

Shake it off by laughing it off.

Let the belly roll!

Check out the articles and video footnoted below for more information.

Cheers!

http://www.pbs.org/thisemotionallife/topic/humor/benefits-humor¹ (Viewed 6/10/2015)

http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/give-your-body-boost-with-laughter²(Viewed 6/10/2015)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thz3c6vBaEY³(Viewed 6/21/2015)


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