BLD BLOG

Ah, the magic of laughter. It’s incredible to feel so filled up that you must burst at the brim…and laugh. Such a phenomenon!

We can be sincere about life without taking it too seriously. Some call it the sixth sense: the sense of humor. Humor isn’t merely about telling jokes; it’s the way we view the world. The perception of humor exists within your mind. It is culturally defined and socially constructed.

Laughter has physical, mental, emotional and social benefits. I did my research and all of the following benefits ROCK. The physical benefits of laughter listed below have been proven through studies time and time again.

LAUGHTER DOES A BODY GOOD BECAUSE IT…

1 – Invokes feelings of happiness and joy.

Facial expressions are not only reactions to emotional states, but can actually PROVOKE these states as well. FASCINATING, huh?!

2 – Relaxes the whole body.

A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after.

3 – Boosts the immune system.

Laughter increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease. It is scientifically proven that people who laugh consistently are able to fight off illness better than those who don’t.

4 – Promotes overall sense of well-being.

Laughter triggers the instantaneous release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals.

5 – Reduces stress.

Laughter reduces at least four hormones associated with stress response: epinephrine (adrenaline), cortisol, dopamine, and growth hormone.

6 – Creates a positive frame of mind.

Laughter brings the focus away from anger, guilt, stress and negative emotions.

7 – Prevents heart problems.

Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which will help protect you against heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems. When we laugh we lower our blood pressure, it increases the blood flow to the heart and pumps more oxygen into the blood. It also strengthens artery walls.

8 – Results in muscle relaxation.

While you laugh, the muscles that do not participate in the belly laugh, relax. (Pay attention next time you laugh and you’ll definitely notice this!)

9 – Changes your perspective.

Humor gives us a more light-hearted perspective and helps us view events as challenges, not threats.

10 – Causes deep respiration.

Laughter empties your lungs of more air than it takes in resulting in a cleansing effect – similar to deep breathing. This is especially helpful for people who are suffering from respiratory ailments.

11 – Lowers blood pressure.

People who laugh heartily on a regular basis have lower blood pressure than those who don’t.

12 – Increased intake of O₂.

During laughter, breathing then becomes deeper and sends oxygen enriched blood and nutrients throughout the body.

13 – Creates immediate connection.

When two or more are laughing together – it creates a connection instantly.

14 – Gives a nice internal workout.

A good belly laugh exercises the diaphragm, contracts the abs and even works out the shoulders. In doing my research for this article, I noticed that some experts call this “internal jogging”.  Funny, huh?!

15 – Can reduce and manage pain.

Two reasons: A) Laughter distracts you, taking your mind off of pain. B) Laughter-released endorphins (natural pain killers) attach to the same receptors in our brain as opiate-based prescription painkillers; thus, chemically giving you pain relief.

16 – Provides a physical release.

Have you ever felt like you “have to laugh or I’ll cry”? Have you experienced the cleansed feeling after a good laugh? Laughter provides a physical and emotional release.

17 – Enables you to live longer.

With everything listed above, I don’t think I even have to go into the WHY.

18 – is FUN!

And who doesn’t want more of that?!

Start smiling now and laughing ASAP. Think of times when you always laugh. Are there any common themes of who you are with, where you are, or what you are doing? Recreate those memories in new ways!

Some ideas: Watch your favorite funny movie, go to a comedy club, plan a game night with good friends, record your favorite funny show so that you’re sure not to miss it, talk on the phone to a good friend that you are sure to laugh with, schedule a time to meet someone you laugh with for happy hour or a coffee/tea, begin seeing things that happen in your life with an easier-going attitude (lighten up).

As laughter, humor, and play become an integrated part of your life, your creativity will flourish and new discoveries for playing with friends, coworkers, acquaintances, and loved ones will occur to you daily.

Humor takes you to a higher place where you can view the world from a more relaxed, positive, creative, joyful, and balanced perspective.

“HE WHO LAUGHS, LASTS!”   -Mary Pettibone Poole

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There are 3 main reasons to travel. Most of the time these reasons blend, but not always.

1) To DISCONNECT from your everyday environment:

You need to unplug from your world every once and a while. It’s important to take an break now and then. Big or small. Taking time to let your mind relax and not think of your normal daily tasks will serve you well. It is a time to renew and refresh. When you come back reinvigorated, you have more to give to yourself and your world. This all goes back to taking care of yourself.

2) To CONNECT with new surroundings:

There is no question that connecting with nature does wonders. Whether it’s a beach, a forest, a canyon, a jungle, a desert, or a glacier – nature can renew and restore like nothing else. A quick way to experience this is to go to a state or national park for a day or two.

Traveling to a big city is also great. Big cities are FUN to experience. Big cities have an undeniable energy that can be invigorating. I LOVE the energy of New York City. I don’t go that often, but when I do it’s always a blast!

3) To CONNECT with people:

One of the most beautiful parts to me about traveling (especially to places very far away) is being exposed to and experiencing the people of that culture. It is amazing to connect with people that have lived a life that seems, on the external, nearly opposite of the life that we lead here at home. But really, we’re all on this journey called life. So we’re not all THAT different. Connecting with the people of another culture teaches compassion and provides a wisdom that you cannot get any other way.

Everyone should travel. You don’t have to travel far. But the farther you go, the more rich the experience. Greater distance traveled = greater culture change.  Experiencing greater culture change = greater compassion and wisdom in your own life.

So, pack up and head out! GROW. Staying in your bubble doesn’t serve you or the world.

My most opposite experience yet…China. Amazing. An unforgettable experience.

Line to get into the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong

Place I’ve been that I want more of…the red rocks of the west.

Place I REALLY want to go? Thailand. I don’t know why. I just do. Maybe next summer:)

Where have you been that you loved? Where do you want to go?

I had some pictures taken yesterday and today for my website and some coaching things I have coming up. It has always been a challenge for me to look natural in front of the camera. I’ve heard advice before about how to appear natural in photos, but nothing of value for me…”RELAX” or Think happy thoughts”…stuff  like that.

Today, at the very beginning of being photographed, it dawned on me…no wonder I was nervous and uptight and unnatural! The internal dialogue going through my head sounded something like: “First of all, you are smiling at a piece of machinery (camera). Look natural. Your smile is fake. RELAX! You’re too stiff.  Stand up straight. Don’t half-smile. Tone that cheezball smile down!”

So, I took a moment to just stop. To take a breath and clear my head. I know that those are crap thoughts. And crap thoughts DON’T DO ANY GOOD – EVER.  Also, thoughts lay the foundation for how we feel. Those thoughts were making me feel insecure, unsure, and shy.

These pictures are going to be used in some way, shape or form to help communicate with people. To help people get a better sense of who I am. Many people will be “meeting” me first by a picture. Soooo, I came up with some better feeling internal dialogue: “Treat the camera like it is a person.” “Smile like it’s the first time you are meeting someone”. I kept going over those two things in my head and WOW, there is a noticeable difference between the pictures taken before that clear-my-head session and after. Every time the photographer started shooting again, I just smiled at the camera like I was meeting someone for the first time. I immediately became more relaxed and easy going. More ME, which is the whole point of these pictures! At some point, I realized that I was actually having fun.

SELF TALK IS HUGE in determining your outcome in whatever it is that you’re doing. Start paying attention to those things (a situation, a project, a task, a goal, a dream, etc.) in your life where you feel powerless, shy, insecure or weak. What is the internal dialogue going on? Once you nail it down – change it. Take a moment and start thinking thoughts that are congruent with the outcome you want. If you are having trouble thinking positive, at least think neutral. It’s a step away from negative and towards positive.

Examples of the feeling states that result from positive, neutral and negative self talk/thoughts:

Positive thoughts result in empowered, strong, confident, and excited feeling states.

Neutral thoughts result in indifferent, calm, at peace, and relaxed feeling states.

Negative thoughts results in weak, insecure, and powerless feeling states.

Once again, if you can’t come up with inner dialogue or thoughts that get you to that place of empowerment and confidence, then just come up with what can give you a calm, relaxed feeling. It’s MUCH better than weak and powerless.

“CRAPPY THOUGHTS PRODUCE CRAPPY RESULTS.” -Susan Hyatt

I love feeling the emotion of excitement. It is thrilling!

I have felt a lot of excitement lately in my coaching world. New ideas are flowing like crazy and I have a clear vision of where I will be with these new ideas are in motion.

Excitement is a fast vibration in m entire body. Fizz-like. My heart rate speeds up. I want to squeal when I feel excitement. My posture gets tall and a perma-grin happens. Good stuff.

On a scale of 0-10, excitement ranges from 7-10. 9 and 10 being euphoric. I love this feeling. I am going to try to create this feeling as often as possible:) And I would encourage you to do the same!

Any you know where it all starts, right? That mental theater of yours!