why so serious, laugh at it
07-05-09
When we listen to most of society and
the media we here a lot of
negativity, along with seriousness and negative emotions like fear, worry,
anxiety. Life can seem cruel, harse, and unfun. I
believe the negativity and emotions associated can begin to rule our life and
cloud our perception of the world. This can cause much unhappiness, illness and
disease. I believe that keeping a sense of humor or having a lighter less
serious attitude can reduce hardships if not eliminate lifes
pitfalls. The Bible in Proverbs 17:22 states a merry heart does good like
a medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones. Laughter
has been shown in medical studies to reduce stress hormone levels like cortical
and adrenaline. It also increases the level of health-enhancing hormones like
endorphins ( these are the bodies
natural pain killers) and neurotransmitters. This can help raise a persons theshold to pain. I have
seen medical studies that state 10 minutes of exposure to humor increases T
cell (immune system antibodies) 20-30%. The next day T cell production was
increased by an additional 30%. You have the greatest most effective pharmacy
in the world within you, it is called your endocrine system. All of the most
powerful drugs effects are already in your body in the
form of many different hormones. What
determines the hormones with in us that are released, is ATTITUDE. I believe it is our responsibility to
react with a appropriate
healthy attitude right for us.
There are two sides of every event,
even a so called tragedy. I believe everything happens
for a purpose, and at the right time. In the Bible it says words to the effect
of God never gives us anything that we are not ready or capable of. I believe
that life is a journey, it is unfolding.
If you follow the sequence of events leading up the the
upheaval or news and into the immediate future and beyond, you will often see a
positive or needed outcome. So it’s like you are you
come into a unfamiliar turn (uncomfortable event), but as you continue around
the corner maybe your greatest achievement or a miracle will unfold. It is to early to respond as if there is something wrong. We can
be so conditioned by the negativity and fear to only see the effects of the short term hardship. When faced with simuliar
perceived challenges we tend to see things though the
eyes of our limiting mind of fear. Our conditioning of fear and other negative
emotions than elicit a release of stress hormones. If a threat is perceived by
our mind, it effects our intelligence. Our blood is shunted from our frontal
brain (rational, critical thinking,problem
solving) to the hind brain (reflex behavior not involving intelligence). During
acute and chronic stress the blood is also shunted
from vital organ that absorb nutrients, assimulating
energy, repair damaged cells and help eliminate wastes. Exhaustion and damage
to all systems will result.
Studies have shown
that our response to stressful events can be changed by whether we view an
event as a ‘threat’ or a ‘challenge‘. When faced with
a challenge we can bring out the power that is with in
us (our spirit). I believe our spirit has no limits and has extreme power. I
believe and it says in the Bible that we were not meant to be small. Humor can
give a more lighthearted perspective. A lighthearted approach can help us view
events as challenges’. This can make them seem less
threatening and more positive.
How do I find the humor or the lighter
side in trials and tribulations? It may not be easy to all the sudden be a
dragon slayer, so I believe in gradual progress. I believe the more of these
strategies you apply your confidence/ faith will grow in momentum. Smile As
you enter a hardship (event, talking to difficult person).Think
of smiling from your heart, without cockiness. The smile is knowing you are capable , ready and being able to be successful in all
endeavors. Our smile lightens seriousness and people that may be competition,
serious, or controlling (including ourselves. Smiling for me also makes
everything I encounter easier and more forefilling.
Smiling allows you to have fun even in the worst of lifes
offering (sickness, death). This smile shows our faith, or
gives us faith and strength.
Find the
humor in life: Instead
of complaining about how life is not going well, try to find some humor in it.
If something is so frustrating, depressing or ridiculous, realize that you
could look back at it and laugh. The great comedian Charly Chaplin said ’ The formula for laughter is to take pain &
play with it. Think about telling it as a story you would tell your
friends, and then see if you could laugh on it, or write it down in a journal
seeing the ups and down of the event. With this attitude, you may
find yourself being more lighthearted and silly,
giving yourself and those around you more to laugh about. Try to approach as
much of life as possible in a more mirthful way. Studies have found that we get
the positive effects of smiling or humor whether it’s fake or it’s real. So smile more and fake laugh. It’s contagious, it will lead
to real smiles and laughter. Watch whatever you find funny (buy programs
and regularly watch) . Watch 10-15 minutes a
day. Go to a
comedy club with friends. Try not to be so serious!!!
Seriousness has a heavy feel, that can also transfer onto others and into
everything that you do. Try not to be to
hard on your self in sports, business or
relationships, know that you can work on your short comings. When seriosness or hardships arises ask yourself will this make
any difference in ten years or even in a half an hour.
Find what was good
optimism in everything
Losing a game
List of possible light hearted or humorous points in hardships
Bad news: there
are two sides of every story, think of that other
Death: A time to CELEBRATE
A PERSONS LIFE,
Loss of a job:or divorce: there maybe a better job or person out there, and this maybe your opportunity to excel