"I'll have what she had", some of you may be thinking. The desire to feel good, (or more accurately perhaps, to stop feeling bad) is what causes folks to turn to mood altering drugs, both legal and illegal. Fortunately, (and unfortunately, for it requires effort) creating the most powerful 'feel good' substance (10 times more powerful than morphine) is an inside job.
Did we know this instinctively, when we arrived here? Children, on average, laugh about 400 times a day. By the time they reach the ripe old age of 35, the average goes down appreciably, to 15! As a matter of fact, my 17 year old son had a near constant smile on his face yesterday as he relished his ideas for April Fool's Day pranks. (I on the other hand, didn't take the time to even consider one)
Maybe it's the crazy weather, or 'midlife' transition, or a 'fibro-flare', or even something new that's arriving. Don't know the exact cause, but the last few weeks I have experienced some intense pain in my body.
Pain is hard to take at the best of times, but when it becomes intense, it has a way of sucking the joy and the energy right out of the equation. I almost 'skipped' the workshop responsible for Saturday's altered state, which was offered as part of the 'advanced training' for Hospice volunteers continual development. Thankfully, I pushed myself to go.
The workshop, called Laughtercises by Denise Arnet, R.P.N. BSc.; is a series of exercises, 'fitness for the mind and body' that come out of the work of Dr. Madan Kataria, a family physican in Mumbai, India who wanted to find an alternative way of treating patients, many of whom were suffering from illness related to stress. (doctor's estimate that over 90% of illness has it's roots in stress).
The session was a rollicking 3 hour journey with laughter, in which I discovered and experienced the health benefits of laughter, which include:
* strengths the heart and lungs
* improves circulation (and mood)
* regulates blood pressure
* boosts the immune system
* helps lessen anxiety
* natural antidepressant
Laughter boosts our levels of endorphins, our body's natural painkillers, while simultaneously supressing levels of epinephrine, the stress hormone. "Laughter is a tranquilizer with no side effects." Arnold Glasgow
Norman Cousins re-discovered the therapuetic benefits of laughter when battling a life threatening disease, by listening to funny stories read by his nurse and watching funny movies. He found that 10 minutes of belly laughter resulted it 1 - 2 hours free of pain.
Proverbs 17:22 tells us that, "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine, but a broken spirit drieth the bones."
Nearly 2000 years ago, Galen stated that cheerful women were less likely to get cancer than those women who were depressed. (Simonton, 1978)
"In this world we are influenced by two sentiments, Joy and Pain. Joy gives us wings! In times of joy our strength is more vital, our intellect keener, and our understanding less clouded. We seem better able to cope with the world and to find our sphere of influence." Abdu'l-Baha
And don't we intuitively and experientially 'know' this. When we are in a joyful state, troubles don't seem to affect us as much, even illnesses are more easily handled.
Linda Kavelin Popov talks about joyfulness as "an inner wellspring of peace and happiness" that " fills us with delight and hope." When we are joyful (no matter the outer circumstances) "we appreciate the gift of live, and savor it's richness."
Though my symptoms have returned since that workshop, I was blessedly given a reprieve for the rest of that day and evening. When the pain returned on Sunday, I remembered that reprieve, and all the times in the past 25 years, when I have had other reprives, (or remissions)
and my hope was restored - those days will come again. This too shall pass.
In the meantime, the words on the reflections card for joyfulness encourage me. I will "appreciate the gift of life, and savor it's richness." I will "enjoy simple pleasures and find the humor in things, allowing joy to carry me through the painful times." Most of all, I will "take myself" (and others) "lightly and remember to play. Joy comes when we are being true to a soulful purpose. It gives us an abiding sense that all is well."
What if I can't find anything to laugh about? Apparently, the adage, fake it til you make it applies here too.
As a matter of fact, natural reticence and self consciousness made the first few exercises in Laughtercises feel kind of contrived. However, with persistence, it wasn't long before all of us present, were sincerely and honestly laughing. It's the effort that will make a difference.
Charles Schafer, psychology professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, New Jersey found in his research that even self-imposed smiling and forced laughter can boost mood and psychological well-being tremendously. “Phoney laughter works because your body doesn’t know it’s fake, even though your brain might,” he says. “Once the brain signals the body to laugh, the body doesn’t care why. It’s going to release endorphins; it’s going to relieve stress as a natural physiological response to the physical act of laughing,” he adds.
I leave you this month with an exercise from Laughercises. When you find life's teachable moments hard to swallow and your well being has been affected by something external to you, usually something someone in your world is doing, is not doing - kids, spouses, inlaws, other drivers, shoppers, bosses and coworkers to name a few, put your hands together, matching up fingers and thumb and raise them to your heart in the namaste position.
Tapping your thumbs together, followed by each finger in turn, ending with the pinkie, (to rewire your brain) say outloud:
Thumb - change is constant
Pointer - bad things happen
Middle - life isn't fair
Ring - pain is part of life
Pinkie - other people were not put on this earth to meet my needs
And remember, to laugh every chance you get!
Off to search for Bill Cosby reruns.
Namaste
~ Kate
The Practice of Joyfulness
I have a deep sense that life is good.
I enjoy the richness of life's experiences.
I appreciate the simple pleasures.
I am optimistic and hopeful.
I am in touch with my purpose.
I feel inner peace even when life is difficult.
Reflection questions
When I am in touch with my joy?
How do I play?
What is my soulful purpose?
What makes me laugh?
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