Seeking Out Laughter
Do not simply wait for opportunities to laugh to come find you; instead, seek them out and find ways to incorporate humor into your daily life.
- When you hear laughter, move towards it. Don’t be afraid to ask, “What’s so funny?” Most people are perfectly happy to share a funny story. Remember, laughing makes them feel good too, and by giving it to you, they are able to laugh again by enjoying the humor you experience.
- Spend time with “playful” people. There are people that are naturally upbeat and happy. They laugh often and easily. They find humor in everyday events and bring up the absurdities of life. Seek them out.
- Children are experts when it comes to playing. They are lighthearted and laugh often. Pay attention to them, spend time with them and emulate them.
- Although not people, you may find that spending time with pets will result in an abundance of laughter. Play with a Frisbee, a tennis ball, or just wrestle around on the floor.
- Try not to take yourself so seriously! Laugh at yourself when you can. Share embarrassing moments, tell a funny joke or story, keep a framed photo of yourself doing something silly where you can see it, keep a toy in the car that makes you smile, pick a funny screensaver, or try to find the humor in a bad situation.
- Participate in “fun” activities. This might include watching a funny movie or TV show, going to a comedy club, reading the comics, perusing the humor section of a bookstore, playing miniature golf, bowling, participating in karaoke, or having a game night with family and friends.
There is no question that anxiety can be debilitating. However, it doesn’t have to completely ruin your life. When you feel those anxious feelings creeping up, remember to ask yourself a few questions to keep it contained and put the situation into perspective: Is it really that bad? Is it my problem? Is it worth getting upset over? Is it worth upsetting someone else? Is it important? Is it irreparable? Obviously, if the answer is yes, you need to proceed accordingly. However, if you find that you respond with several, “no’s” – see if a healthy dose of laughter will help alleviate the impending feelings.
Granted, we don’t always know what causes our anxious feelings, and that can be frustrating and aggravate the problem even more, so seek help when necessary.
You should always follow your doctor’s advice, take medication as prescribed and do whatever you can to reduce the stress in your life, but by incorporating humor and laughter as often as you can, you may actually discover that it is, indeed, the best medicine.
