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Laughter is incredibly helpful. It has been scientifically proven to normalize blood pressure, improve concentration, relieve stress and help fight depression. People who love to laugh tend to make more money, have excellent health, and have great relationships with others. How to fill your life with laughter?
Joy and laughter are inextricably linked. When we are overwhelmed with strong joy, we laugh, unable to contain it. But to laugh on demand, without any reason, especially when in a bad mood? At first glance, this seems like a fool’s errand. British psychologist and coach Leslie Lyle, author of Laughter Is Your Way to Be Happy, is sure that this is not the case.
“We can learn to induce laughter on our own, for no reason,” says the expert. “You don’t have to become regular viewers of humorous TV shows or study collections of jokes bought out of desperation on a commuter train. There is no sense of humor here.” How to do it?
1. Mirror laugh
This exercise is easy to master – the mirror reflects the movements of our body and facial expressions and, as it were, returns them to us. Imagine that you are sharing a joke with yourself and laughing. Try to put on a laugh. Try to find the poses, facial expressions that make you laugh the most – this is how you at the same time acquire the valuable skill of laughing at yourself.
2. Welcome laugh
Raise your arms above your head and stretch them up, while saying loudly and clearly: “Hello-oh-oh-oh.” Then lower your hands and say a loud, booming “Ha-ha-ha” to end the greeting. This exercise, as it were, anticipates laughter, thereby helping to arouse it.
3. Floating laughter
It’s very simple: imagine that you are swimming and laughing at the same time. Breaststroke, backstroke, front crawl – try all styles.
4. Surprised laughter
Imagine that you have just been very surprised. Inhale deeply and in amazement – “Wow!” Pause for a moment and then let out a laugh. Keep laughing until there is no air left in your chest.
5. Quiet laughter
Remember the situation when you can’t laugh out loud for some reason (you are visiting friends, where a small child sleeps, on a work trip or just in the office), and, unfortunately, you are laughing.
You can practice this funny silent laughter anytime and anywhere. Imagine that you are laughing, but do not voice your laughter. Rock your shoulders up and down and feel the laughter in your stomach. This exercise helps trigger spontaneous laughter.
6. Machine gun laughter
A great way to relieve the accumulated stress: go through all your problems in your head in turn and laugh heartily at each one to erase it from memory. This exercise works well when you need to switch.