Several months after my husband died, something happened that caused me to laugh. I was surprised at how good it felt. It also surprised me when I thought about how long it had been since I had last laughed, so I decided then and there that I would start laughing, even if I had to make a conscious decision to do it. But how to get started?

As I thought about it, I knew we had books and magazines with humor in them, so I started raiding the bookshelves, pulling out anything and everything that was funny, and I put it all on the dining room table. From that point forward, I read something after each meal, determined not to get up until I had had a good laugh.

I was amazed at how much the laughter helped. Since that time I have learned that laughter is one of nature’s most natural and most healing mechanisms, and not just for grief but for many illnesses as well.

The reason for this is simple: Our state of mind is connected to our breathing, but usually when we are feeling stressed, our breathing is shallow. Yet the body gets the oxygen it needs from the bottom of the lungs, not the top. That is just one of the reasons why laughter is so effective. It uses the diaphragm which, as you know, is connected to the bottom of the lungs. When we move the diaphragm, we pull oxygen into the bottom of the lungs, and thereby release some of the stress we are feeling ~ physically, mentally, and emotionally. In fact, 10 minutes of deep, healthy laughter is equal to 30 minutes of aerobic activity! That means laughter gets those spirit-lifting endorphins going.

And if you’re experiencing physical pain for whatever reason, 30 minutes of belly laughter will give two hours of pain relief! Just another reason to bring laughter into your day!

But what if you are finding it hard to laugh? Then try beginning with some deep breathing. Yoga teaches some excellent pranayamas (breathing exercises) which are very effective, but if you don’t do yoga or can’t get to a class, just start breathing deeply on purpose. It doesn’t have to be for a long time. Even 10 or 20 deep breaths will make a difference.
There are a lot of things you can do to lighten up. Here are just a few:

Smile.
Count your blessings.
When you hear laughter, move toward it.
Spend time with happy, playful people.
Bring humor into conversations.
Laugh at yourself.
Try to laugh at stressful situations rather than bemoaning them.
Take charge of your thoughts, emotions, environment, and the way you deal with problems.
Surround yourself with reminders to lighten up. Keep things in perspective.
Deal with your stress.
Pay attention to children and emulate them.
Find a laughter group in your area and join it.
Make it a habit to start and end your day with laughter.
Start laughing every chance you can, even if you have to fake it.
I sincerely hope you’ll make a conscious effort to bring more laughter into your days. If you do, you’ll see for yourself the difference laughter can make.

Donna Miesbach

I have been on a spiritual path all my life. I was first introduced to meditation when I was seventeen. I knew this was an important tool, but I wanted to go deeper than that particular method allowed, so my search began. I attended workshops and classes, read books and tried every form of meditation I could find, to no avail. Then in 1994, my life changed dramatically. My husband died very suddenly. Soon after that, I lost both parents, too. They say when the student is ready, the teacher appears. This student was certainly ready. About a year after my husband’s sudden death, I learned about Dr. Deepak Chopra and his teachings. It was like finding the light at the end of the tunnel. I took meditation training from Dr. Chopra and began attending his courses. They fed my deep roots and made such a difference in my life that I committed to being certified both in meditation and yoga so I could share these wonderful practices with others. I have studied with Deepak and also Roger Gabriel both here and in India. I also studied sound healing with Jonathan Goldman, and remote viewing with Dr. David Morehouse, having completed all five levels of his training. As my teaching became established, doors began opening that allowed me to teach meditation to at risk youth. Then another door opened and I found myself working with Playmakers Mentoring Foundation, a Sacramento-based outreach. Together with their Executive Director, we wrote a book and then opened a chapter here in Omaha. In addition to my work with Playmakers, I continue to teach meditation in the Omaha NE area, offering both private and group instruction. I also hold group meditations and programs five times a year, and speak to groups on various aspects of spirituality upon request.   It has been an amazing journey, one I never could have anticipated. I didn’t know it then, but I know now that it is possible to get to the other side of grief, and that is what my book, “From Grief to Joy, A Journey Back to Life & Living,” is all about.

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