Learning to Laugh

“When you laugh you change, when you change the whole world changes” – Dr Madan Kataria

I am learning to laugh. I don’t mean to say here that I don’t know how to, or don’t laugh often, because I do. I am learning to laugh in a different way… I am learning to use laughter to lighten me up, lift my mood, and relax my body. I am learning to laugh when I don’t feel like it.

When life gets busy, and I enter rush-rush mode, I get tense. I forget how to relax – it is not that the thought slips my mind, it is like I don’t remember how to. Everything gets tight, moods gets serious, and eventually, I lose balance. My goal now is to use laughter even when I don’t want to – finding a way to feel better when I need it the most.

When I first started doing Laughter Yoga sessions, I felt so silly. It was harder than I imagined, and I caught myself tense, scared, even. But I was able to loosen up, and as I started to laugh, I felt the benefits. I am now a believer (LOL). I have been able to start belly laughing out of nowhere. If you want to give it a shot, try this very short TEDx video below. If the idea interests you, there are plenty more videos to try in YouTube. Why not?

Laughter is medicine… and here are some of the benefits:

• Boosts your immune system
• Lowers stress and eases anxiety
• Relieves pain
• It’s an ab workout, really (nothing like a belly laugh!)
• Enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles
• Reminds you to lighten up and play
• Quickly boosts your mood

Did you try it? Did you feel silly?
It is weird at first, but worth it in the end…
Trust me.