How Mindfulness & Laughter Contribute to Our Healing Journey
As a cancer thriver, I can confidently say that the greatest contributor to my well-being has been learning to understand how emotions and mindfulness contribute tremendously to each person’s healing journey.
More than likely, you have heard the word “mindfulness” at some point in your life and have some type of definition of the word. For our discussion here today, let us define mindfulness as awareness of one’s internal states and surroundings. Note that the key word is awareness; we can also use words like attention, observation, and consciousness. Mindfulness can help people avoid destructive or automatic habits and responses by learning to observe our thoughts, emotions, and other present-moment experiences without judging, forming an opinion, or reacting to them.
According to an article published by Psychology Today, practicing mindfulness provides positive potential benefits such as more attentional control, more effective emotional regulation, enhanced social relationships, reduced risk for physical ailments, enhanced immune system functioning, and better sleep quality.
Almost certainly, you have experienced, just as I have, the emotion of feeling drained after investing too much time in planning, daydreaming, problem-solving, or letting random negative thoughts spiral. This is the opposite of being mindful. As you go about your day today, I would like to invite you to practice some mindfulness.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
Practice the voluntary action of paying attention. For example, when you eat your food, slow down, observe the colors on your plate, inhale the aroma of your food, then taste it, chew slowly, and enjoy it! Do this without the interruptions of mobile devices or television. Be present while you are nourishing your body. Your digestive system will appreciate it!
Accept yourself and the moment you are experiencing right now in your life. Become your best friend, be kind and gracious to yourself!
Focus on your breathing when those negative thoughts try to make room in your mind. Have a sit, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and start counting. Slowly and deliberately move your attention to your breathing, scan your body slowly and in order, start at your toes and gently move up to your head and back again where you started. One minute of this intentional moment will help you develop yourself tothe lifestyle of mindfulness.
Be aware the skill of being present will help us develop a state of calmness and help us reset to face the circumstances of daily life.
Be kind, practicing the golden rule of “doing unto others as you would want them to do unto you”, in other words treat people like you want to be treated.
Be social. We probably don’t see friends and family as medicine, but if you pay attention to the spiritual, emotional, and physical positive effects that being in a group leaves you with, you will want to not only have friends and family with you but also be a friend to others.
Find meaning for your life, or as many experts define it, find your purpose. Expressions of gratitude, acts of compassion, and perhaps a simple smile to that stranger can trigger healing responses from the one who receives and to the one who gives.
In 1964, Norman Cousins, the editor-in-chief of the iconic Saturday Review magazine, was diagnosed with a painful and debilitating disorder. Conventional medicine offered no answers and little help, so he decided to experiment with his own therapy: generous doses of vitamin C and an even bigger dose of laughter. Later, in his best-selling book “Anatomy of an Illness as Perceived by the Patient: Reflections on Healing and Regeneration” published in 1979, Cousins recorded his personal experience suggesting a connection between mind and body, particularly the interaction of the human mindset and the immune system. Incorporating humor into any healing journey or plan will not only help us get back into balance more easily, it will also make the journey that much more enjoyable. Today, there are many scientists and institutes for neuroscience that are actively researching the mind-body connection and how mindfulness plays an important role in health, healing, and well-being.
Laughter has physiological effects that can change brain function and body chemistry.
For example:
Intense laughter relaxes the muscles.
Laughter lowers cortisol, also known as the stress hormone.
Some studies show that laughter can increase NK (natural killer) cell activity.
“Humor therapy” – watching a funny movie, shows improvement in cognitive function, learning ability and visual recognition.
Mindful Awareness
Try to think of a humorous moment, a video clip, or a knock-knock joke. Find something that gives you a good belly laugh, engage with it, and see what happens.
Are your muscles relaxed?
Can you take deep breaths more easily?
Notice when you laugh.
What makes you laugh?
Who makes you laugh?
Very mindfully, practice good habits of self-care, movement, meditation, and daily laughter. Laughter truly is the best medicine; incorporating a daily dose of it will give your nervous system the break it needs. So, next time you’re feeling frazzled, go to a house of mirrors. It’s a great place to reflect. Go ahead, have a good laugh. It’s really, really good for you!
A REVIEW BY
MAGGIE HILDE-RIFFLER, FMCHC
CIOFM TEAM MEMBER
