by
Madisyn Taylor
As children, we laugh hundreds of times each day, delighted by
the newness of living. When we reach adulthood, however, we tend to not allow
ourselves to let go in a good belly laugh. Inviting laughter back into our
lives is simply a matter of making the conscious decision to laugh. Though
most of us are incited to laugh only when exposed to humor or the unexpected,
each of us is capable of laughing at will. A laugh that comes from the belly
carries with it the same positive effects whether prompted by a funny joke or
consciously willed into existence. When our laughter comes from the core of
our being, it permeates every cell in our physical selves, beginning in the
center and radiating outward, until we are not merely belly laughing but
rather body laughing.
Laughter has been a part of the human mode of expression since before
evolution granted us the art of speech. Through it, we connected with allies
while demonstrating our connection with people we didn't know. In the
present, laughter allows us to enjoy positive shared experiences with
strangers and loved ones alike. Yet solitary laughter carries with it its own
slew of benefits. An energetic and enthusiastic bout of whole-body laughter
exercises the muscles, the lungs, and the mind in equal measure, leaving us
feeling relaxed and content. When we laugh heartily at life's ridiculousness
instead of responding irritably, our focus shifts. Anger, stress, guilt, and
sadness no longer wield any influence over us, and we are empowered to make
light of what we originally feared. Laughter also opens our hearts, letting
love and light in, changing our perspective, and enabling us to fix our attention
on what is positive in our lives.
It is easy to laugh when we feel good, but it is when the world appears dim
that we most need laughter in our lives. Our laughter then resonates through
our hearts, filling the empty spaces with pure, unadulterated joy. We regain
our footing in the moment and remember that no sorrow is powerful enough to
rob us of our inborn happiness. When we understand that uninhibited laughter
is the food of the soul, nourishing us from within, we know instinctively
that life is worthwhile.
|
No comments:
Post a Comment