The most wasted of all days is one without laughter." e.e.cummings
I was reading some material last week about the effects of laughter on our health. We all know how good it feels to laugh and the more humor we have in a day, the better we feel. No matter what the stressful circumstance or situation, if we can introduce some humor, it always lightens the stress. Laughing comes naturally to us; we were born to be joyful and have fun. Small children laugh on average around 400 times a day! Unfortunately, as we move into adulthood responsibility grows and laughter diminishes. Adults average only 20 laughs per day. What a tremendous change!
When's the last time you had a really good belly laugh? Being with family or friends always leads to laughter for me. I love to spend an evening with good friends sharing stories with lots of humor. Sometimes we laugh at ourselves ? which seems to happen more often as we get older! Other times we laugh at something on TV or something we read or maybe something that happened during the past week. It doesn't seem to matter. Once the laughter starts, it goes on for hours and the evening just flies by. It is fun to see how relaxed everyone becomes. You can visibly see any tension in the body dissipate. After a good laugh, your blood pressure drops, muscles relax, and your heart rate and breathing slow down. Ah...doesn't this sound soothing? What would your laughter meter show right now? Are you doing better or worse than the average? Close your eyes and think about something or someone that makes you laugh. What happens to your body when you bring up this image? Wouldn't you like to feel this way most of the time?
A good friend of mine just called as I was writing this article. In the process of catching up, she shared a funny story about herself. As she was hurridly applying her makeup to go to a wedding she accidently got her mascara brush stuck in her bangs! The pictures she painted about attempting to wash the mascara out of her bangs without getting the rest of her hair wet was hilarious! We had a good laugh over it and I was still smiling when I hung up the phone.
Pay attention to what makes you laugh and how often you laugh over the next several days. Bring more laughter back into your life by sharing funny stories with your friends and family ? everyone benefits!
Who do you know that needs a good laugh right now? What could you do to bring some lightness and laughter to this person? Maybe call and share a funny story or incident? Rent a comedy and watch it with them? Buy them a humorous gift or card? Whatever surprise you come up with, it will be perfect and, when they laugh at what you did, so will you!
Copyright October 2003 by Vicki Miller
As a Life Transition Coach I work with clients to identify what's most important to them and prioritize around these values. I help my clients identify and remove obstacles in the way and bring clarity and focus to their dreams. What is your dream? Are you undergoing a major transition and not clear where to turn? Call (972-306-4489) or email me, (coach.v.miller@verizon.net), to set up a complimentary, no obligation 30 minute coaching session. Download my FREE e-Book, 12 Fun Ways to Change Your Life, or sign up for my FREE monthly newsletter at http://www.thrivingthroughchange.com
Want to be happier?Edward W. Smith, motivational speaker, author and... Read More
A friend once said to me, "There is no meaning... Read More
We all want happiness and peace of mind. In the... Read More
Don't Let Life Happen To You ... Read More
The following three inspirations were adapted from A Daily Dose... Read More
Sometimes change is pleasant. A child is born. A new... Read More
So you're stuck in a rut, bored with how your... Read More
In what areas of your life would you like to... Read More
What if I told you that you have the ability... Read More
Can you remember a time when you became a little... Read More
"Reflect on your present blessings of which every man has... Read More
Only you can call me into aliveness. Each time... Read More
Is there any necessary connection between our actions and the... Read More
Breaking the cycle is a term we have all heard.... Read More
When I was in graduate school for psychology, we had... Read More
Life is simple. You'd be surprised to know that most... Read More
Happiness. The pursuit of so many. In fact, we are... Read More
Where does happiness fit on a scale of 1 to... Read More
Falling In Love with LifeThere is no feeling in the... Read More
Let's just say? first thing when you popped out of... Read More
What is happiness? If we mean by it a state... Read More
When it comes to happiness, togetherness is probably the most... Read More
I am often asked how I can live the way... Read More
Do you really want to be happy? Everyone says yes,... Read More
EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE - how to build positive emotions for extraordinary... Read More
Yes, it might feel great to win the lottery. Money,... Read More
Your Destiny Number, which describes all of the talents and... Read More
Although many for us strive for happiness in our daily... Read More
What is it that everyone is seeking? Happiness with no... Read More
Anger can make us feel good and enlivened for a... Read More
Gratefulness brings a great fullness to life. The choice to... Read More
How Laughter Can Reduce Stress and Improve Your HealthA merry... Read More
Why Are You Here?When I ask this question, I'm not... Read More
You have a purpose in life. You have a unique... Read More
"Don't you understand, everything in this life is meaningless," cautioned... Read More
Falling In Love with LifeThere is no feeling in the... Read More
What comes to your mind when you see someone who... Read More
The Life Path is determined by the sum that is... Read More
To paraphrase a saying my mother liked to use occasionally,... Read More
I assume you want to be happier. Searching for greater... Read More
When we choose to move beyond the boundaries of the... Read More
Sometimes life experiences can be like a lemon-flavored Tootsie Roll... Read More
So many people overwork themselves literary in the quest for... Read More
In pursuit of happiness, what will we do as women?... Read More
From the moment we wake in the morning our heads... Read More
Being in tune with your mind, body, and soul and... Read More
"The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance, the wise... Read More
Humans are liable to experience a variety of afflictions, but... Read More
Sometimes change is pleasant. A child is born. A new... Read More
A pervasive sense of low self-esteem, a feeling of unworthiness,... Read More
Finding Happiness Finding Happiness |