Laugh - it's good for you!

Oh my... it's been forever since I've been out here.  I've been doing some amazing inner work and I'm learning new skills to help others with.  But today, I want to remind everyone to laugh.

Laughing is important on so many levels.  It is great for you physically.  It can offer a great workout if you laugh long enough.  It is great for the stomach muscles.  It helps to move stale air out of your lungs and bring in new air which is essential for physical well-being and healing!!

And not to be ignored... it feels great!!  It is good for the soul.  Allow yourself a good laugh.  In fact, go out of your way to make yourself laugh.  Laugh for no reason.  Feel silly - that's good.  You are adding cheer to your life and the whole world with your laughter and silliness!!  Enjoy!

10 Happiness Habits

Happiness really is a choice and even though it doesn't always seem like it, it is in our grasp at every moment.

Here are some things to try when you are not feeling happy:

1. Smile - the act of smiling produces physical changes in your body that automatically improve your mood even if it is a fake smile.
2. Laugh - yes, laugh for no reason.  I love laughter yoga which is basically that - laughing for no reason!  And just for the record, fake laughter helps you as much as real laughter.  I have usually found that my fake laughs quickly turn into real laughs!
3. Read an uplifting book - the topic is personal to you because it needs to be something that makes you feel happy, hopeful, inspired, loved, etc.
4. Write in a journal - getting your thoughts on paper has been shown to be very healing on all levels.
5. Help someone else - helping people and being of service provides us with a feeling that can not be matched.
6. Write or think about what you have to be grateful for - this may seem obvious or if you are really down, you may have to work at this.  It can be that you are alive; that we have running water and electricity and indoor plumbing; that you can walk, think, talk, hear, see; that you have someone you love or that loves you; that you have food to eat; that you have a roof over your head; or, that you have a means to read this.
7. Exercise - get moving.  Even going for a simple walk will improve your mood.
8. Go out in nature - Being in nature has a way of grounding us and improving our mood.  It doesn't matter if it is the beach, the mountains, or a city park, it will help.  Take in your surroundings and feel your mood improve.
9. Meditate - If quieting your mind seems impossible, try a guided imagery type of meditation.  There are so many different ways to meditate and you can find the one that works for you. Just spend some quiet time with a simple focus.
10. Pray - If you don't feel comfortable with praying to God - think of it as asking your highest self to answer your prayers.  It can also be angels, saints, ancestors, whomever you feel comfortable to call on for assistance.  Studies have shown that prayer works.

I invite you to incorporate these into your daily life and let me know what results you notice.  You will start to feel happier.  I am certain of it.

Laughter

Laughter is the best medicine. Sometimes we forget the importance of laughing and as a society we've become way too serious for our own good and for our health! Laughter brings joy to us and to other people who see us laughing. It's been medically proven to help people who are sick. Norman Cousins healed himself from two "terminal" illnesses by laughter alone. One of the reasons for that is because it allows oxygen to get deep into our lungs and for us to expel the old stale oxygen that's in there .  Oxygen is the most healing thing we have. They actually have oxygen tanks now that they put people in to heal because when cells have the appropriate amount of oxygen they can heal anything that's wrong with them.

Another very important thing about laughing and one of the premises for laughter yoga is that it creates peace. The goal is world peace. There been studies that show that prisoners that do laughter yoga become much more calm and much less violent. That is also been shown that people cannot be mean to other people while they're laughing and in that state of happiness.

I am looking to bring laughter yoga into schools. I know my children are often told not to laugh at school and I think that's kind of sad. It's important to laugh and it's important to find humor in all situations. When we stop being able to do that, we lose a big ability to heal physically, mentally, and spiritually.  Also, in this age of bullying, if we allow students to laugh together and create that bond, connection, and sense of community there will be a lot less meanness and bullying happening because of those friendships formed through laughter.

Laughter provides you with a great aerobic workout as well as an ab workout!  

Laughter is a universal language. 

Laughter is a sign of happiness and joy .

Spend some time laughing today!  You don't need to have a reason and nothing actually needs to be funny to start laughing.  If you pretend laugh, the positive effects are the same on your body and your health!  And most people start to laugh for real after pretend laughing because it's funny just because it's fun!