Ever notice how a good laugh shifts almost any mood?
Some days it is the ONLY thing that works.
“If we couldn’t laugh we would all go insane.” – Robert Frost
Think about those moments when you really do feel crazy. Laughter releases the pressure and returns you to a more resourceful state.
“There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humour.” – Charles Dickens
Similar to yawning, it’s really hard to watch someone laughing and not feel the urge to join in.
It feels so damn good. Stop resisting!
Let yourself laugh, out loud and more often!
“Laughter is the language of the soul.” – Pablo Neruda
The first time I attended a silent retreat I caught myself laughing as I walked through the woods on my own. It bubbled up from within and echoed through the trees.
Best. Feeling. Ever.
“Life is really a great cosmic laughter.” – Osho
Listen, the joke is often on you, so why not laugh about it? It will more than likely be funny in a few years.
Why wait?
Laugh more now.
“A day without laughter is a day wasted.” – Charlie Chaplin
Life. IS. Funny.
Stop wasting your precious time worrying and stressing. Open yourself up to a big ol’ belly laugh.
Look for opportunities to laugh.
They’re everywhere when you pay attention.
Laughter is what I adore about teaching middle school. It’s a rare day that something doesn’t happen to make me snort laugh. They are real and precious and funny and observant, and I think that’s what has carried me through the tough moments. A good laugh brings down the blood pressure and releases stress immediately.
Ellen Berg YES! I’ve noticed that sometimes in the midst of a stressful situation I’ll laugh, and it might seem inappropriate but I think it’s my subconscious going for the release of tension!
Sandi Amorim Ellen Berg Like when someone farts in church. Or your when you’re being scolded for something and the person is just so serious. I try to remember this when I’m in a tizzy and the kid who’s the offender is stifling a giggle.
Even in my darkest moments I find a way to laugh. I suspect that if you ask those who know me best they would tell you that the day I completely give up laughter is the day that I take my final breath and even then you’ll find a smile on my face.
thejoshuawilner I’m not surprised to hear that! Seems most of the people I connect easily with (online or off) are the ones who laugh often. Life is funny and taking it too seriously is a major energy drain. Why go there when laughter works so much better?
thejoshuawilner I’m not surprised to hear that! Seems most of the people I connect easily with (online or off) are the ones who laugh often. Life is funny and taking it too seriously is a major energy drain. Why go there when laughter works so much better?
Even in my darkest moments I find a way to laugh. I suspect that if you ask those who know me best they would tell you that the day I completely give up laughter is the day that I take my final breath and even then you’ll find a smile on my face.
This is awesome Sandi :). Yesterday I was forced to step back and just laugh at my life. I walked out of starbucks (yup! they have them here in Japan) and my bike was missing. Turns out they tow bikes. Who knew?! Well now I know. I also discovered a completely new location in Kyoto – where they place all the towed bikes. I think you make a great point though. I think we all are in danger of taking ourselves way too seriously. Just that alone kind of cracks me up. Because when we take ourselves too seriously we kill the beauty and joy of life… Yet, when we take ourselves super seriously this is often when we are searching for beauty and joy most intensely. It’s like trying to find the Roman Coliseum with a Map from New York :). It just doesn’t work. Darn that ego!
30YearOldninja They tow bikes??? Definitely not funny in the moment, but a funny story to tell after the fact! Your comment reminds me of folks who obsess about their cameras, face always behind the lens, determined to get the best holiday shots. But how present are they to the beauty in front of them when they’re looking through that tiny filter of the lens? Same with folks who insist on seeing life through a serious lens. They’re missing out.
Oh boy, I think the best example of this was when I would throw crying fits as a kid. My parents would (wisely) leave me to cry it out in my room, and when I was sick of being alone, I would walk out of my room into the hall, where we had a huge mirror. At first glance, without fail, I would always start laughing, seeing the big swollen tear-stained eyes and snot dripping down my lip. I think that laugh was my parents cue to give me the attention I was craving before…and taught me a valuable lesson about how the world would much rather respond to me in my light over my hissy-fit throwing fear driven self.
Sabrina at MyMiBoSo I remember my hissy-fit throwing days well 😉 Thank God we survived them!