When we are joyous our hearts seem to become lighter.
Have you heard the phrase “Laughter is the best medicine?” Laughter is associated with boosting immunity and busting stress. According to HelpGuide (http://www.helpguide.org/life/humor_laughter_health.htm) it prevents heart disease.
Have you ever laughed so much that you started to cough? Believe it or not this is healthy; it’s like giving yourself chest PT, which clears your lungs. It certainly feels better to laugh fully than to do the deep breathing and coughing exercises you may have needed to do after bypass surgery. Also, it’s more fun to laugh than to use the incentive spirometer, the breathing tool with the balls or discs which rise as you inhale. Incorporating laughter into your life is refreshing.
Beyond laughter, there are other ways we sense and express joy. Joy is associated with warmth and perhaps a little excitement. Generally, it is more fully experienced when we are at ease, and at the same time, joy can put us at ease. Joy overflows from our hearts out to the way we behave and leads us to be more generous and willing to share of ourselves and what we have.
What do you do to experience joy? Here are some ideas for how you can reconnect with joy. Please share what has been helpful to you.
- Think about what you appreciate and express a sense of gratitude.
- Go for a walk with someone you enjoy being with.
- Listen to, read or watch something you think is funny.
- Look at photos from a joyous time in your life, and allow yourself to re-experience those moments.
- Make time for fun activities.
