Laughter is the Best Medicine
If we are honest, we can be our own worst enemy.
We let negative self-talk rule our lives, we compare ourselves to others and sometimes we just have a bad attitude towards life. I know what it is like to say something positive and uplifting one minute and be totally impatient and rude the next, but that is not the way I want to live. Today, I want to show you how laughter can become your greatest tool to loving life and seeing it from a positive perceptive.
Laughter not only helps us have a better outlook on life, it is actually healthy for our whole bodies! Even doctors and nutritionists contribute, saying laughter and humor help the body in so many different ways:
Boosts your immune system
Relaxes the whole body
Helps protect the heart
De-stresses emotions
Improves mood
Helps with nerves
Decreases pain
Enhances resilience
Laughter is a powerful tool to strengthen our lives.
And it’s contagious.
So, how do we get it? How do we learn to laugh when times are tough? How do we learn to smile when someone hurts us? How do we see the positive side of life?
Before we go on, I do have one note of caution: I am not trying to tell you to cover up hidden emotions and feelings of pain by smiling and laughing. No. You need to deal with those issues. Don’t let this be an excuse to not deal with your pain. However, when we do learn to laugh, it gives us all a better quality of life and strengthens our well-being.
Be True to Yourself
Part of our problem for not enjoying life the right way, is because we can be so caught up in being who are not. If you are busy trying to be someone else, then who is going to be you?
You need to love yourself. This does not mean you become arrogant or self-centered. This simply means you embrace who you were made to me. Stop comparing yourselves to others, stop stressing the small stuff and start accepting who you truly are.
Also, it is vitally important that you take time for yourself. Every week, I try to make a point to do something that I want to do. I read a book, go for a hike or watch a movie. Either way, it is my time. This helps me breathe, slow down and be true to myself. Do not feel guilty or ashamed by taking time for yourself. How can we enjoy life to the fullest if we do not take care of ourselves?
Have a Person
I have about 3 people in my life I can go to when I need an extra “pick me up”. No matter what is going on in my life, after just spending 5 minutes with these special three people, I know my serotonin levels have risen and my stress and burdens are decreasing.
You need people in your life who can help you laugh deep down to your core. These kind of people are trustworthy, honest and know how to shake it off.
Be Spontaneous
If you know me, then you know I love schedules and lists. My day planner is full of notes of what I need to get done each day. Sometimes it can become overwhelming and stressful. The best kind of days are when something happens that was not planned.
Learn to get away from the business of schedules and “planned events”. Take some time to have fun, be spontaneous and do something new and wild for a change.
Got Love?
We all need love in our lives in order to be joyful and to make laughter a natural part of who we are. Do you show love in the way you live? Do you let others show you love?
The best example of love is Jesus Christ and how He laid His life down so you and I could live. I sing because I am happy. I smile because I know I have God in my life. I laugh because God has set me free and there is joy every single morning.
You will never be able to escape God’s love.
I encourage you to start your day with Him. When we remind ourselves who we are actually living for, this crazy life starts to make sense. Ask God to go before you. Ask Him to give you His strength to live out each and every day.
Want to live life to the fullest? Include God in every moment.
Deal with the Stress
If we hide our stress under the rug to deal with later, that will not make the problems go away. Actually, that will only make your life more miserable. If people started identifying and dealing with their stress as it comes, we would have a lot less doctor visits. Sometimes a doctor is necessary, but I want to give you some my tips to help you start dealing with stress:
Learn the word “no” – you do not have to do everything.
Eat vegetables every single day (seriously!)
Take time for yourself (like I said above).
Eat a healthy breakfast every morning.
Dance in your underwear.
Go for massage therapy.
Show your family and friends you love them.
Stay away from negative people.
Exercise for 20 minutes, 5 times a week.
Manage your time and “to do” list properly.
Find solutions instead of dwelling on the problem.
Let go of grudges and anger.
Lower your standards of people and yourself.
Have a regular sleep schedule.
Think before you speak or act.
Stay positive – always.
Count your Blessings
You do not have to look very far to see that we live in a very negative world. Someone is always complaining about something. Being joyful and having a genuine smile really comes down to how you view life and what your attitude is. You can either choose to look at the negative side of things, complain, have self-pity or you could choose the positive side of things have a cheerful heart.
Proverbs 17:22 says, A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
It’s your choice. And no one can make it for you.
Turn it Off
Our lives are driven by technology. What do we do when we wake up in the morning? We check our Facebook messages, Instagram likes and text messages. I wish social media would just shut down between 11pm and 11am, but no, it is constant; always there, ruling our lives. When we let technology rule our lives, it can have a damaging effect on how we view ourselves, others and our overall enjoyment of life.
When we are constantly on technology, these things can happen:
It decreases our energy
It Imbalances our mood
It strains our eyes.
It messes with our sleep pattern.
Loneliness is linked to too much social media.
It gives us unrealistic standards for ourselves and how we view others.
It gives body shaming.
Here is some advice to help you turn off the technology:
Turn off all devices at least one hour before you go to bed.
Take 1 day a week where you turn off your technology for anywhere from 4-12 hours.
Leave your phone in your purse or pocket when you are with friends and family.
Limit your time of use per day- have self-discipline.
Have an accountability buddy- someone who can help you remember to turn it off.
Forgiveness
Forgiveness sets you free.
Ephesians 4:23 says, Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ, God forgave you.
Forgiveness needs to be a part of our life if we want to serve God and experience true happiness. Forgiveness can be hard, especially when our world tells us it is okay to hold grudges and payback those who hurt us. I believe we should have a different way of living.
Romans 12:19 says, Leave it to God, for He has said that He will repay those who deserve it.
The truth is we are all equal; we are no better than the person who needs our forgiveness. How do we forgive people who hurt us so deeply? How do we pray for those who hurt us over and over again? We forgive by praying and handing the situation over to God, taking the time to cool down, taking time to think about the whole picture and always remembering that God forgave us. When we forgive someone, we do not have to forget what that person has done, but we do need to show the same love God showed us.
Also, you have to learn and be able to forgive yourself. This is key as many of us forget to forgive ourselves which can lead to guilt, shame and regret. If you have asked God and the person you hurt for forgiveness, that pain and resentment will not go away until you actually make a point to forgive yourself too.
When you decide to forgive, the person who it truly frees is you.
It all Starts Within
Everything that I have been talking about starts with our heart and mind.
There is a quote that says: Watch your thoughts for they become words. Watch your words for they become actions.Watch your actions because they become character. Watch your character because it becomes your destiny.
It is true. Our thoughts and what it going on inside will reflect outside.
Proverbs 4:23 says, Guard your hearts for everything you do flows from it.
A good friend of mine said to me, you cannot have control over your first thought but you do have control over your second thought and your first action.
So, guard your heart and mind, for cheerfulness, joy, delight and laughter will flow from it.
Laughter is a powerful tool that will help strengthen your life.
Will you start the chain reaction?
Be Empowered:
Psalm 118: 24 - "This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it."
2 Cor. 9:12 "God loves a cheerful giver."
Psalm 68:3 "Let the righteous be glad. Let them rejoice before the Lord. Let them sing praises to His name."
References:
StartFragmentHealth benefits of humor and laughter (n.d.). In Laughter is the best medicine . Retrieved June 4, 2016.EndFragment Holmes, L. (2014). In Sneaky Ways Technology Is Messing With Your Body And MindEndFragment
Vanderhaegh, M.S., L. (2010 ). A Smart Woman's Guide to Weight Loss.
Also, shout out to Amanda Barret, Kassie Vee, Danielle Browne and Emily Thornburrow for being my models for this blog. Thank you for trusting in God with your life and showing us true laugther.
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