Laugh Out Loud

A smile starts on the lips, a grin spreads to the eyes, a chuckle comes from the belly; but a good laugh burst forth from the soul, overflows, and bubbles all around.
~ Carolyn Birmingham

When you’re stressed and frustrated, it can help to belt out a good ol’ belly laugh. One that starts out as a smile turns into a giggle, and then into a full fit of laughter.

Your to-do list is long, especially during this time of year. People are depending on you for any number of reasons and as fast as you complete and cross off one item on that list, ten more are added. You wonder how you’ll ever get it all done in time to comfortably enjoy the festivities that accompany the season.

Laugh

Laughing can relieve the stress of the holidays for you and those around you.

I tend to have a quick temper and little patience for when things don’t go as planned or expected. I tend to throw things as well as utter a few choice words. No one wants to be around me during these times, however fleeting they might be.

What I am finding is if I start laughing, 1) it is contagious and everybody around me gets in on the fun, even though they may not know what they are laughing at or for, and 2) I feel better.

Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine have shown that “laughter has been linked to lowering the risks of heart attack and stroke.” I contend that it helps relieve tension and anxiety.

Conscious Effort

This takes mindfulness. You have to think about laughing then you just start. Breaking into laughter, especially when you’re upset or frustrated may seem weird, but once you get used to conscious laughter, you’ll be able to do it at any time.

People may look askance at you but so what? This is for your mental health. Encourage them to try laughing too.

Benefits of Laughing

We’ve already discussed that a good guffaw is a stress reliever, but what are a few of the other benefits:

1. Pain relief
2. Immunity booster
3. Increases oxygen levels in your blood

These are a few of the short-term effects of a good laugh. Now it’s time to give it a try.

Try It

It’s quite simple. Turn the sides of your mouth into a smile. Then giggle, chuckle and laugh. Get your shoulders into it followed by the rest of your body. Doing this may seem a little forced on your first or even second try. It doesn’t matter. Once you have the hang of things you will become a pro.

Trust me, you will feel better and your thinking will become clearer.

Go ahead. Laugh Out Loud. You’ll be glad you did.

Learning to love yourself is one of the most difficult things you will ever do on this journey called life. It’s okay to take care of your needs first. My Self-Love Journal is a powerful tool that will help you reconnect with yourself and explore what makes you unique. You will understand why self-love is so important. Check it out here and bring more (Self) Love into your life.

Need more self-care tips including info on incorporating more laughter into your day, head on over to A Cup of Positivity on Facebook join the discussion.

When you’re feeling overwhelmed with your To-Do list or life, you need a little positivity. Head on over and grab my free Positivity Journal.