Do you remember the section in the Readers’ Digest called “Laughter is the Best Medicine”? These humorous quips captured the absurdities of life. The recounting of the ridiculous, the irrational and the illogical of life would push the mind to call “uncle” while the heart lightened with laughter.
Over the Thanksgiving weekend, I witnessed the power of laughter first hand at a Jay Leno show. Before the production isolated individuals sat quietly in their chairs, keeping to themselves awaiting the performance. But the vibrations changed once Jay took the stage.
Jay’s performance inspired us to laugh at ourselves in the everyday workings of family life. He relates how as children we embarrass our parents. Then years later, our parents embarrass us.
He prompted us to see the humor in our frustrations in daily incidents like dealing with the stupidity of people who can’t see what is right under their noses.
We roared as Jay connected us laughing at the humanness that we all share, the nose hairs, bodily functions, growing older and losing our appeal, our ineptness dealing with technology. On and on we laughed at our ourselves….connecting us with what is true.
Two hours later filing out of the ballroom, these same once -serious detached audience members, broke the bonds of solitary by mingling, chatting like old friends and bubbling over with smiles.
What accounted for this major mood swing? Laughter! Laughter IS a powerful tool.
Laughter works as the antidote for fear, separation, conflict, and hurt. Laughter encourages us to drop the façade of overseriousness holding on to old prejudices, grievances and hurts.
Looking at our situations in life through a “lighter lens,” can turn our beliefs around giving us new perceptions and novel ideas. We can shift our thinking promoting hope and new resolve if we would just drop the heavy burden of ourselves getting in our own way.
In my mind, laughter is God’s welcoming Spirit at work in a troubled world. This Spirit reminds us that we are part of a whole living in togetherness not isolation, love not fear, and hope not despair.
How can we bring this light heartedness and this powerful medication of laughter into our everyday lives?
1. See the situations of life as if you were a comedian gathering material for your standup routine. Change your mindset to look for the smile in every connection. Go to a comedy show to get ideas!
2. Instead of embarrassment or frustration move away from the thought that “this it is not the way that it is supposed to be”. Lose the judgment.
3. Invoke the approach that this is not just my family or my problem…we are all going through these trials, embarrassments, and uncomfortable situations together. Reach out.
“The whole art of life is knowing how to transform anxiety into laughter.”- Alan Watts
Please take a minute to share a time when a good laugh lightened your heart.
Photo copyright: daynamore / 123RF Stock Photo