FUNNY AT HEART
WHAT’S SO FUNNY?
When was the last time you had a really good belly laugh?
One that made tears stream down your face? For many of us, it's too few and much too far inbetween.
With a world wide pandemic, lock-downs, restrictions and control of our movement, it definitely has been a challenging time which threatened to take our joy away. But, we cannot allow this to change us. I’m sure that you’re aware that laughter makes you feel good and puts you in high spirits, but did you also know that laughter actually causes physiological responses that protect the body from disease and helps your vital organs repair themselves?
A good hearty laugh can be compared to a mild workout, as it exercises the muscles, gets the blood flowing, decreases blood pressure and stress hormones, improves sleep patterns and boosts the immune system which we all need right now.
Medical studies also show that humor and laughter can improve our memory and mental performance, and as we age this is vital. We must think of ways to incorporate more laughter and joy into our lives.
So how can we find the funny side of life?
We all have crap, stresses and obstacles in life and we all make some silly mistakes that may cause us grief and suffering, but there is zero point in wallowing in self pity or punishing and beating ourselves up over it. It’s a waste of time and a waste of life.
If you can learn to laugh at your own disappointments, disasters and foibles, you'll find that you can overcome any hurdle quicker. If your issues stem from other people, then try to accept that you cannot always see issues from their point of view or life experiences, so there is no point in holding onto a grudge, anger or resentment. Just accept what you can’t change or what's happened in the past, but you can change the way you react to it. Only you can influence your thoughts and your reactions to things. Why make yourself sick over it.
Try not to be too hard on others, because expectations you may have of them are exactly that - expectations! No one has to live up to your expectations - only their own. Control your own self and don’t try to control others, let go of what you cannot control and learn to float in your own love bubble.
Joy bubbles from the heart
Life can be crap if we take ourselves too seriously…..someone cut you off in the traffic? The barista spoiled your coffee because he was in a bad mood? Your train is late? The next time you feel the stress levels rising from trivial things, take a minute to think about the irony of the situation and allow yourself to laugh about the things you can’t control. Better still, be inventive with your waiting time, take the opportunity to look around, talk to others. You know, there have been many many times that I’ve made the best contacts this way and had fulfilling conversations, or a casual conversation has encouraged me to write a great piece of work. Always look for the positive and trust that the universe had a higher reason. This acceptance of the things you cannot change will decrease the amount of cortisol that your body produces due to stress, lowering your blood pressure, blood sugar levels and heart rate.
Fake it ‘till you make it... that’s right, crack a smile and a chuckle will soon follow. Laugh at your previous stubbornness to let go at all costs. "Don’t chew off your nose to spite your face"
Keep a funny memory bank!
Store your funny videos on your phone to watch when you’re feeling down, I have many and they work every single time, no matter how down I feel. Call on these memories frequently, especially when you’re feeling sad, angry or stressed; what they’ll do is to temporarily transport you to another place and when you return you will feel instantly better. Reliving a funny moment will cause the endorphins to kick in, which act as natural painkillers and mood boosters.
Grab your pet! They are amusing without even realizing it. You can't help but laugh at the joy that bounces out of them. They are always happy to see you, and love to play. People with pets have lower levels of depression and stress and are less likely to suffer from heart disease.
