By Marisue Alsobrook

Introduction:  Laughter is a natural stress reliever, and we all need more of that!  Stress stops us from enjoying the healthy benefits of small laughter.  You’ve seen those jolly people that seem to laugh every few moments.  It’s good for you!  Even though deep laughter releases the most endorphins, the small frequent giggles and laughs give relief all during the day.  Read this and relax by laughing; aim for several times a day.   I know it seems silly to “make” yourself laugh, but in the beginning, you’ll have to put forth the effort.   We get out of the habit and then have to learn again!  I’ve been there.  Breathe, relax, and let the giggles begin!  I bet you’ll feel better. 

Finding the Funny

Finding the funny in life is easier than we think.  We’re just out of the habit.  Life is and I think meant to be way more funny than we allow it to be; laughter is natural.  Just watch a puppy, watch a baby, watch a toddler, watch yourself!  Throughout the day, there are plenty of humorous moments that we tend to ignore. We get so caught up in being serious that we miss opportunities to relax with laughter. 

Laughter is Healing

Laughter is healing and is a natural stress reliever.  Stop and think.  When was the last time you really laughed out loud?  While uncontrollable laughter in a moment can be very healing, so can many smaller bursts of laughing, chuckling and giggling.  What makes you laugh?  Once we’re out of the habit, seeing the funny is harder and takes practice.  Bring it back!  You’ll feel so much more relaxed.  Thinking positive and chuckling throughout the day will lighten your load and even make those around you laugh.  It’s contagious!

Have you ever stood by someone who’s laughing, and found yourself beginning to laugh as well, even though you have no clue as to what was funny?  This strange physical response is common, like yawning.  Watch someone yawn and then try not to.  Your mouth will start the motion sometimes by just thinking of the yawn.  My jaws are aching to stretch even now. 

Sure, there are times when it is considered inappropriate to laugh, (like during prayer at Church) but if we’re honest,  we’ll admit that we’ve all had those strange moments of wanting to laugh at the time when we think we shouldn’t.   

On a particularly stressful day, I remember my father sitting down to dinner, and offering prayer by confusing his normal opening sentence of “Heavenly Father we thank Thee for this day” to “Heavenly Days, Father.”  We all were so stressed from the day that when he said that we started with a small giggle that turned into crying and laughing at the same time until we couldn’t even see.  Afterwards, giggles followed throughout the meal and we all felt better. 

Don’t you think that in today’s world we could use a little laughter to lighten an overly-serious situation?  The most memorable business meetings, family gatherings, (intimate moments?) and even funerals I’ve ever attended included bust-a-gut moments.   When nerves and sadness bring about laughter, we often feel guilty.   Yet, giving into these inclinations can relieve our knotted muscles, our frowning faces, and aching hearts. 

Laughter is Contagious

A friend recently told me that years ago, during a two-week silent meditation retreat,  she  got the giggles.  She felt terrible as everyone around her was really serious and somber, but something struck here as so funny  They were supposed to meditate  for five hours straight,  but she couldn’t get started from the laughter that just erupted as she looked around at all the participants sitting so straight with such serious facial expressions.  

Then, to make matters worse,  she heard a “KLUNK!” from across the room.  She turned her head just in time to see that one of her retreat buddies had fallen asleep and landed with his head against the wall. Momentarily unnerved, he quickly straightened up, closed his eyes and put on his best meditator’s face.   She laughed harder.   She  managed to stifle the first few giggles, but then they started escaping in little bursts.   She tried the coughing technique, hoping to disguise her snorts as expectoration, but she  wasn’t fooling anyone. 

Pretty soon, she saw others looking her way. Several were shaking with the effort to hold in their giggles.   Gradually, the whole room was shaking with silent laughter and some began to choke and giggle out loud.  It wasn’t that funny, but it began to be hilarious.  No one seemed able to stop.  The more they tried, the louder the laughter became.   Soon,  almost everyone in the room had caught the desire to laugh.  After a few moments, who cared?  No one knew why they were laughing but it continued until they were all exhausted.

So much for meditation. 

Those in charge of the retreat just let the moment flow.  After all, the point of the retreat was to relieve stress and no matter the tool, it was working.  Who knew?

Laughter is Medicine

Laughter is the BEST medicine.   Get rid of all that excess baggage!  Are you overloaded with feelings of stress and strife, grief, resentment? Just let it go.  Laugh until you cry.   It may cause a disturbance, but isn’t ignoring what’s happening around us the same kind of thing that gets us into trouble back in the Real World?  We ignore the funny and take on the horrible.  Why?  Why do we get so caught up in what’s bad, and fear the laughter and good feelings?  Are we afraid of being happy?  Maybe. 

We go about our lives, obsessing, worrying, fretting, crying, being angry, wishing things were better, and moving mindlessly towards more and more stress.   See life as experience.  What are we here for?  To gain material goods and lose the minutes of our lives?  Are we losing joy by failing to notice the wonder, joy, beauty and silliness of that which is all around us?

Well, I’m all for taking time to laugh. Give me a giggling neighbor, co-worker, friend over a sour puss “get-‘er-done” guy every time. The greatest mentors–in business, education, and personal success–are those who encourage us to invite laughter into our lives whenever it pops up.  Time to laugh?  “Get-‘er-done!”  Let it rip! 

Open your eyes to the silliness around you, and laugh out loud.  It’s ok.  It’s good for your heart in every way.  I hear you!   

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