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Lightening Your Life with Laughter

Lightening Your Life with Laughter. BALANCING LIFE’S ISSUES. Objectives. What is Stress? Laughter Therapy Facts About Laughter Self-Esteem Benefits of Laughter How to Laugh More. What is Stress?. Individual/family “Fight or flight” Physical symptoms Mental symptoms

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Lightening Your Life with Laughter

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  1. Lightening Your Life with Laughter BALANCING LIFE’S ISSUES

  2. Objectives • What is Stress? • Laughter Therapy • Facts About Laughter • Self-Esteem • Benefits of Laughter • How to Laugh More

  3. What is Stress? • Individual/family • “Fight or flight” • Physical symptoms • Mental symptoms • Learning to handle stress is a skill

  4. Laughter Therapy • Releases tension/pain • Speeds healing – both mental and physical • Expresses emotion – gets us un-stuck • Increases self-esteem/self confidence • Gives us a new way to look at situations • Laughing together brings us closer; encourages teamwork • Helps us think “out of the box” • Strengthens the immune system • Is based on medical research – proven effective

  5. Facts About Laughter • It’s contagious – hard-wired into our nervous systems • It doesn’t come from happiness – we feel happy because we laugh, not the other way around • Frequent laughter is a learned skill • It changes your body chemistry • It makes other people like you and want to help you • It is a cathartic part of the healing process • Promotes creativity, learning, resiliency • Combats the “fight or flight” response

  6. Get in touch with your feelings: • Art – express yourself! • Journal – notice what you’re thinking • Self-assessment/self-talk • The Little Engine that Could • Raise the sky – feel the pride Self -Esteem

  7. Benefits of Laughter • Dissolves tension, reduce conflict, brings out warm feelings • Laughter is a cardio-vascular exercise –increases heart rate and blood pressure initially, then drops them – increases flexibility • Diaphragm squeezes abdomen – internal organs get massaged • Gulps in air and then sends it out at 70 mph – great exercise for your respiratory system • Increases beta endorphins (the feel-good hormones) • Reduces the stress hormone cortisol, which lowers the immune system, aggravates arthritis, slows healing • It’s free, no Rx needed, have as much as you want

  8. How to Laugh More • Take control of your feelings • Enjoy and learn from your problems • Charlie Chaplin – take the pain and play with it • Laugh about the unlaughable • Surround yourself with useful, positive materials/people • Plan and prioritize your life

  9. Ways to Laugh More • Laugh in front of a mirror for 15 seconds – until your belly shakes • Wear bright colors • Do laughter exercises: • Pretend to conduct music; Mental floss; Evil Genius • Stand up straight – look alert (mind follows your body) • Even if you have to fake it – ACT HAPPY!!!

  10. Resources • Books I’d Rather Laugh…………Linda Richman Laughing All They way….. Marlo Thomas The Healing power of humor…. Dr. Allen Klein • Tapes Patch Adams My Big Fat Greek Wedding • Sitcoms Original Candid Camera • Surrounding yourself with people who love to laugh • Teaching others

  11. Lightening Your Life with Laughter BALANCING LIFE’S ISSUES

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