“Laughter is an instant vacation.” – Milton Berle
Much of the time we run on emotional autopilot. If things are going well, we feel good. When we feel good, we are more relaxed and it is easier to get along with others. If things are uncertain, or if something does not go as planned, it is easy to slip into a funk. When we feel bad, our body tenses up, and we might overlook or be annoyed by the people in our lives.
Thankfully, we actually have more choice in the matter than we often realize. When we find ourselves locked into a negative pattern of behavior, we can make a new choice. The hardest part is convincing ourselves to try something new when we are used to thinking familiar thoughts and having familiar reactions to the world around us. There is a certain momentum to our thinking and actions. If, however, we get to a point where we are tired of getting the same results, we might be motivated enough to experiment with new options.
On our weekly podcast, Funniest Thing! with Darrell and Ed, we interviewed Siri Gopal Singh. He is a Culver City resident who teaches meditation and yoga. One exciting brand of yoga that he teaches is called laughter yoga. The practice encourages us to laugh more and shows us how to do it. Through guided activities, such as pointing and laughing together at an imaginary bill that we must pay, a whole new world of choices opens up to us.
Singh recommends another activity that we can use when we need a good laugh in public. Put your cellphone to your ear and pretend the person on the other end of the line is telling you the funniest thing you have ever heard. Laugh aloud and point to the phone to let others know just how funny the person is being. While it might sound unorthodox, it works.
While standing in line at the grocery store recently, I noticed that I was feeling very fatigued. It felt as though everyone around me was equally tired, and the air was suddenly 15 degrees warmer. Rather than sink into a state of grocery store despair, I picked up my phone and took an imaginary call. I proceeded to laugh loudly, pointing to the phone all the while. My mood lifted and my energy returned. I noticed smiles on the faces of the people around me, and a little girl in front of me seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
This practice of choosing to laugh at what might normally bring us down is something to celebrate. Children will often parrot the emotional responses and reactions of the adults around them. By showing them that it is okay to laugh at life’s seeming obstacles, and choose a joyful approach, we teach them to access more of their potential and avoid unnecessary power struggles.
There was a kindergarten student who came to the lunch group because she was not showing any emotion in class. Somewhere she got the idea that holding in her emotions was the way to go. It took some prodding, though not too much, for the little girl to open up. Behind her stoic expression was a vibrant person with a great sense of humor and a wonderful imagination. She became the loudest laugher in the group and she started expressing herself more in the classroom. What a delight to see this young person share more of her amazing self with the world.
Perhaps you have been holding it all in. This pattern may have been with you for as long as you can remember. Thankfully, every moment is a new opportunity, full of new choices. Find a safe space to point and laugh at whatever has been bothering you. When you do, you will unlock more energy and new ideas. You will quickly discover that you are more powerful than you had previously believed. The world will thank you for it, as you naturally share your laughter with the world.
Edward Biagiotti is the Inclusion Specialist for Culver City Unified School District. He is also co-host of the popular radio show, Funniest Thing! with Darrell and Ed, to find out more go to www.DarrellandEd.com.
