“I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I’ll go to it laughing”
-Herman Melville, Moby Dick
A Time to Laugh
Over the past few weeks I’ve noticed a familiar theme coming up in sessions with some of my clients and in my personal life. The theme has been around the healing power of laughter. As I’ve started to notice this theme emerge, I’ve been mindfully paying more attention to the act and noticing the change it has on myself and those around me when laughter is present. The change I’m talking about is the visual, visceral and physical change that occurs as a person smiles and laughs. The physical act of laughing makes the breath naturally move in and out in the body. The face brightens and softens, the heart fills with warmth and radiates. It lightens tensions and bonds people in a shared human experience. Laughter is contagious.
When a person laughs, it can help diffuse difficult emotions such as anger, grief, fear and sadness. Laughter can help ease anxiety and depression. It can relieve stress, stimulate the immune system, and facilitate human bonding. Laughing by no means takes away a difficult emotion, but it can soften and shift ones mood or break up tension.
I encourage you to think about how laughter plays a role in your life. What brings the gut busting tears rolling down your face kind of laughter? Set aside time to bring laughter and humor in into your daily life. Work on creating intentional ways to have fun and laugh with your spouse, partner, children, parents, friends, and colleagues. I have included a list of some local events and venues to explore, or you can use social media options to bring laughter into your daily life.
- See a comedian at Dr. Grins Comedy Club, 20 Monroe, or River City Improv.
- Do your own comedy act/improv at Dog Story Theatre.
- Get a ticket for an event at LaughFest 2018 running March 8-18th.
- Watch a favorite comedy movie or sit com, read a comic, watch a funny YouTube video or do laughter yoga.
- Send funny memes, gifs, or laughing emoji’s to loved ones.
- Learn to laugh at yourself, laugh at the absurd, and laugh with wonder and wild abandon.
So next time when you’re in the therapists office, remember its okay to share a laugh with them. It can be just as healing as the tears. Feel free to take a moment and share your favorite funny on the GR Therapy Group Facebook or Instagram account. Let’s share the laughter together as we heal one laugh at a time.