Posts tagged Bouts
Laughing Your Way to Good Health
Sep 1st
“Laughter is the best medicine.” How often have you heard that phrase? Many times I imagine. Amazingly, it’s actually true! People who have a positive attitude during illness tend to recover at a faster rate. Those who routinely experience bouts of laughter tend to be more balanced individuals who are able to manage stressful situations more easily than most. That must upset your worry warts to no end! Imagine that! Here you are, spending most of your time stressing out about meeting deadlines and other daily challenges because you want to achieve and be recognized for your diligence. To top it all, now you are told that these people, who you secretly hated because they seemed to get all the promotions without really trying as hard or deserving it, were right all along.
How is this possible? How can it be that a person like you, who puts everything into your job, meeting deadlines and generally getting sick with stress, gets looked over by someone who seems not to take life very seriously? Does this happen because life is ultimately unfair, or is there something more physical that is happening that we are not aware of? Can changing our attitudes really produce better health and vitality? Many more people are asking these questions with a view to understanding the intrinsic link between laughter, happiness and health in general.
We know that happiness is important because without it, life would not be worth living. We could still live, but we would have nothing to live for, and that could be a very sad existence. Let us not kid ourselves and say there are no sad people on the planet. Believe me, there are millions of people who live in such sadness that it is quite painful to behold. Have you ever wondered why unhappy people always tend to be depressed? Have you ever wondered why so many depressed people always seem to be sick? Are these people sad and depressed because they are sick, or are they ill because they are depressed? If they are ill because they are depressed, how does depression lead to illness and chronic disease?
An increasing number of doctors have come to appreciate the value of laughter and how it assists in the healing process. Some have even started prescribing watching situation comedies or movies. They have found that patients suffering chronic disease and cancers tend to use fewer painkillers. This is because these patients are distracted from the pain and kept entertained at the same time. If the “comedy treatment” can assist these patients, then surely there must be some benefit for healthy people. We already know that healthy people who experience laughter on a regular basis tend to manage the stress more effectively, and by managing stress are less likely to develop chronic disease.
So do yourself a favor, start watching more comedies and join a comedy club, stop taking yourself so seriously and learn to appreciate humor. It will probably save your life.
Enjoy the Simple Things in Life
Sep 1st
It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.
Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867-1957)
American Author of Little Home on the Prairie Series
Living in the same place, going through the same motions day after day often leaves us numb to our surroundings. Sometimes it does require a geographical move to shake us up or a change in our health or relationships. Mostly, it requires us to pay attention and be clear about our intentions; the intention that we want to enjoy the simple things in life that give us most pleasure.
In moving to another culture, we became amazed at the joy we were getting from the simple things in life. To name a few, we treasured.
Carrying colorful straw baskets everywhere.Eating good tasting fresh fruit and vegetables.Walking our daughter to school – versus being in the car all of the time.Being successfully understood when conversing in French.Cooking a scrumptious meal made from seasonal foods.Sticking our head out the window to smell the fresh air and try to catch a speeding swallow.Picking lavender on our walks or fresh figs from the nearby orchards.Sitting in an outdoor cafe’.Shopping in the farmer’s markets for seasonal food at great prices.Reading together on the couch every night.Driving through the round-a-bouts versus stopping at red lights.Being pushed out of our comfort zones all the time (we became enthusiasts of trying new things).Drinking great, local French wine.Talking to old friends and family back in California.Meeting new friends.
A few tips that help in being able to enjoy the simple things life offers:
– Get rid of clutter in your life, in your house, and in your mind.
Wherever there is clutter there is no room to see what is in front of you and sense deeper aspects of life. Start by taking the time to clean out the physical clutter around you – anything you haven’t used in the past year is obscuring your vision from enjoying what you do have.
– Surround yourself with supportive people (and be aware of negative people and energy).
You can’t appreciate the simple things around you when it is clouded with negative energy. Whether it is your own or other people’s – get rid of it or minimally compartmentalize it so it isn’t pervasive in your life.
– Focus on what you are doing and who you are with.
Distractions deter you from both seeing, hearing, feeling, and smelling the simple joys in life. The more you are able to be present in the moment, the more you are able to enjoy the treasures of the moment.
– Make a list of all the simple things you enjoy and make sure you enjoy at least one of them daily and more weekly.
By making a list of the simple things you enjoy, you begin to focus on making sure they are in your life. Whether it is cooking a special meal, planting a garden, walking hand-in-hand with your child, or reading a good book, state the intention that you want in your life. What we pay attention to we make time for and create.
– Take yourself out of your comfort zone and experience new simple pleasures.
Travel is one of the easiest ways to take yourself out of your comfort zone and experience so many new simple pleasures. Closer to home, meander over to a new hiking trail you have never been on or try tuning into a new radio station. Try something new and different, such as inviting some unknown neighbors over for a glass of wine or a cup of tea, and be surprised about the smile that it brings to you and others.
