"Lynn Shaw has invited us to use laughter, a gift we all have at our disposal,
in our daily lives. She offers information, inspiration and instruction on how and why
we need to accept and celebrate this gift. "
- Jacki Kwan, LCSW-C Humor Therapist
by
Lynn Shaw
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Stress Management ~ Laughter
Laughter for the Healing Heart.
A laughter therapy course by Lynn Shaw, author and laugh therapist. If you are
experiencing a health or emotional low, laughter exercises can be an adjunct to a
healthy outlook. Discover how laughter can help reduce symptoms of allergies,
abdominal pain and digestive problems -- to name a few. And help you manage anger
and fear. For those dealing with physical or emotional distress, finding laughter in daily
life can profoundly enhance healing and the quality of life!
[ Learn more ]
[ Course Reviews ]
"The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter."
- Mark Twain
Finding Laughter During Difficult Times
By Lynn Shaw
Dare we laugh during difficult times? As our nation engages in war and
terror alerts go up and down like an emotional roller coaster,
I reflect upon my own laughter meter in recent weeks, I realized that
I have had several moments of weeping and many moments of laughing.
This reminded me that laughing and crying are on the same continuum - both
designed to offer release and relief. During tough times we may think that
laughter is inappropriate or an indication that we're not as serious as we
"should" be. My belief is that it is in tough times that laughter is
especially helpful to move us from intense introspection to connection with
others, perhaps through service and outreach. Laughter is about connection,
and I can't think of a better time to connect outside of self than during
difficult times. So go ahead and laugh - and weep - simply because you can.
And, if you need a jumpstart, here are some ideas to help get you laughing:
- Laugh with a friend - Call the one person you know will absolutely laugh - no
preliminary conversations needed; just laugh.
- Look for laughter in each day - a funny incident, a thought, a billboard, a commercial,
whatever helps you smile.
- Listen to other people laughing and then join in - this is great in parking lots,
grocery stores, wherever people gather.
- Try a laughter exercise - simulate laughter to stimulate laughter. Example: Smile 5
times in 5 seconds; next do this while watching yourself in a mirror.
- Walk and laugh - Granted, this may draw some interesting looks from observers. As you
are walking at a leisurely pace, simply repeat a laughing word like "ha" with each step.
Change the pace of your walk and the pace of the laughing word. You can do this audibly
or silently - you'll be smiling either way!
- Invite friends over and begin storytelling - you'll learn new things about each other
and share some laughter plus the connection will be priceless.
- Now is a good time to re-connect with levity and lightheartedness - fly a kite, play
ball, paint, sing silly songs, take a child for a walk, visit a senior and get them talking
about the "good old days", laugh out loud simply because you can.
Connect with each other and connect with the "spirit of laughter" so that you
experience all that laughter can be for you. The spirit of laughter is part of your
spiritual health and is wonderfully infectious, contagious, universal, fun, free and
uplifting - ideal for difficult times.
Lynn Shaw resides in Indiana and is the creator and
instructor of the Self-Healing Expressions course
Laughter for the Healing Heart.
Learn more about Lynn and her course here:
Copyright © 2003 Lynn Shaw. All rights reserved. If you are interested in publishing this article, please email .
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