Laugh Your Way To Happiness

Have you ever noticed that little babies like to laugh, or rather they laughed very easily? I enjoy disturbing my little niece who is 18 months old. Often, I will just stare at her and she would start laughing. I know not how comical or hilarious I was, but she would just start laughing and come running to me.

Perhaps what I have done was something new to the little one, or deemed as new in her little head, she is delighted and so she laughed. If I were to stare at the older one, the older one would cry. I did remember she too laughed when she was much younger. Perhaps that is what life is. As we grow older, we tend to restrict ourselves, trying not to laugh for one reason or another, even though we know that laughter is one medium allowing us to enjoy and share positive experiences with both strangers and loved ones. At times, I find it so hard to laugh, even at myself, even when I know that laughter carries with it many benefits. What about you?

Though most of us are inclined to laugh when we are exposed to humor, each of us is capable of laughing at will. It is simply a matter of making the conscious effort to a laugh. Not too difficult, isn't it? You bet!

It is easy to laugh when we feel good, but it is when we are in a bad mood that we really need the laughter most. It is precisely this moment that we need to invite laughter into our lives. The laughter will be able to resonate through our heart, filling the empty spaces with pure, unadulterated joy. We will be able to forget any unhappiness, and remember that no sorrow is powerful enough is to rob us of our inborn happiness.

When we give an energetic and enthusiastic bout of whole-body laughter, we are exercising our muscles, lungs, and mind, leaving us feeling relaxed and contented. It is when we laugh heartily instead of responding irritably, we are able to shift our focus from the negative thoughts to the positive actions. When we no longer find life ridiculous, we have already taken control of what we originally feared - anger, stress, guilt or even sadness. It is laughter that will open our hearts, letting in love and insight, and helping us change our perspective in life.

If only we can understand that uninhibited laughter is the food for our soul and providing us the nourishment to a life worthwhile. If only we can cackle that uninhibited laughter to generate the nutrients. If only we can employ and enjoy that uninhibited laughter nourishing our life.