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My third intention word for 2016 is LAUGHTER.
For those of you who know me personally, you may know that I am a rather serious person and am not given to an easy-going approach to life in general. I am passionate about everything I do, and while this can be a wonderful personality trait, sometimes I know that I just need to lighten up and laugh a little!
In researching laughter I have found a multitude of studies that generally come to the same basic conclusions about the benefits of laughter:
- Lowers blood pressure
- Reduces stress hormone levels
- Fun abdominal workout
- Improves cardiac health
- Boosts T cells
- Triggers the release of endorphins
- Produces a general sense of well-being
So now that I know the benefits of laughter, how do I begin to implement more laughter into my life? I came across a blog post by Dr. Frank Lipman an integrative and functional medicine physician in New York City who refers to himself as a “Health Evangelist”. Below is a list of Dr. Lipman’s 7 Ways to Incorporate More Laughter Into One’s Life:
- Laugh with others frequently – and occasionally laugh at yourself
- Spend time with funny people
- Have a laugh-in
- Need a little comic relief, right away
- Laugh all the way to the office
- Build up your humor reserve
- Get to know the greats
In going through this list I immediately see areas where I can bring more laughter into my life!
- I will spend even more time with my hilarious granddaughter Eliana who has me in stitches every time I am with her… oh the innocence and joy!
- I will choose to read books with a humorous theme
- When I do watch television I will choose to watch great Canadian humor on Rick Mercer and 22 Minutes
- I will invite my brother-in-law Angelo over more often who, when on a roll, is unbeatable
- I will cultivate a daily habit of listening to or reading something humorous. I have now placed a link on my desktop to George Carlin videos for this and when comic relief is needed right away
Let me know what some of your own ways are to find humor in your life every day and if per chance we meet sometime in March, I hope I have a joke or two to share with you!
Again, I welcome my dear friends and family to remind me to stay on track. If you, like me, set three words of intention at the start of the New Year, I would love to hear how you are getting along. I welcome your feedback. You can connect with me via email or telephone, leave a comment right here on the site or join in the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.
Until next time,
Kathleen
