This post is all about how humor benefits mental health. You’ll learn how laughter is the best medicine to reduce tension, boost your mood, and reconnet you with your inner light.
Laughter is the Best Medicine: How Humor Can Lift Your Spirits
Let’s face it, the world feels heavy right now. With the global tensions, economic woes, and the daily grind, it’s easy to get bogged down by negativity. But what if I told you there’s a simple antidote – laughter? There are many ways that humor benefits mental health.
Humor: The Magical Stress Buster
The moment I read the mantra word I completely relaxed and smiled. Of course we beneFIT by humor! Mark Twain summed it up so beautifully when he said, “Humor is the great thing, the saving thing after all. The minute it crops up, all our hardnesses yield, all our irritations and resentments flit away, and a sunny spirit takes their place.”
Think about the last time you had a good laugh. Did the tension melt away? Did your worries seem a little less daunting? Humor has a magical ability to improve mental health, break down barriers, ease stress, and bring people together.
Laughter as a Release Valve
Boy do we need humor now more than ever before! The energy has been so serious for the last few years and the tension so thick you could cut it with a knife. The wars, both literal and political ones, inflation, the exposure of corruption, the pandemic, shaky economy, etc. has been taking its toll on our health. Little irritations that normally we’d have patience with become sparks that set off conflagrations. It’s clear that we need more ways to improve our mental health.
So, yes, my friend, it’s time to lighten up and have some fun. Bring in some humor to release the frustrations, fears, resentments, and everything else that’s been making you tense.
Humor: A Gateway to Our True Selves
Do you know the translation of the Sanskrit word “guru”? We tend to think of a guru as a teacher, which is true. But a more accurate translation is “remover of darkness.” By shining the light of Truth, the darkness disappears and Spirit shines through. Spirit loves FUN! Spirit is 100% positive vibration. It’s the unlimited, creative potential of All-That-Is. Humor and laughter lift the veil and we discover that this is who we are at our core. Thank goodness for all the benefits of humor!
Lost in Duality: Reconnecting with Light
Aligning with Our Higher Selves
Our task is to train ourselves to tune into the truth of who we really are (Spirit) and observe and act from that perspective as much as possible. Of course, we’re human and therefore prone to losing sight of our Truth and making mistakes. But keep in mind that they really aren’t mistakes if ultimately we learn from them. So use humor to live through, learn from, and laugh off your mistakes. Remember, my friend, God has his hands in everything, even the bad stuff that happens.
Any negative thoughts, judgments, or beliefs we hold will take us out of alignment with the purely positive vibration of Spirit. This creates the sense of separation between us and our Higher Selves. At best, this keeps us feeling not so good, the opposite of the lightness of humor and laughter. Those negative thoughts will pull our energy and vibration down like dead weight.
Thank goodness for the gurus out there that remove the veils that prevent us from seeing, aligning with, and shining our Truth. Think of the word “Enlightenment.” When we discover Truth our vibration “lightens up”. We release the darkness, whatever it is that has kept us from seeing the light. This is why humor benefits our mental health.
The Power of Laughter: A Real-Life Story
So what is it about humor that made me smile and relax completely? My mind went immediately to a memory of a time that laughter was truly a saving grace. A student at the studio where I was teaching had asked me to mentor her before she went off to Bikram’s teacher training and she was now back and about to teach her first class.
First classes are usually very awkward. The new teacher is typically tense and nervous and fear is the predominant energy. It’s okay. We all have to have our first awkward experience as we embark upon our new journeys and step into the unknown. She chose the 6 a.m. class on her birthday to be the first class she would teach and then proceeded to invite all of us friends and supporters to celebrate her birthday by taking her first class. I groaned. Of course I’d be there but I found no humor in having to take class that early in the morning.
The Laughter that Saved the Day
Anyway, the class was moving along and, as we all expected, it was awkward and the tension was thick. We were doing the second part of Awkward Pose, sitting as if in a chair and working up high onto our toes, when she said the magic word “Change.” While everyone else changed I got stuck. Instead of rising back up as I always have in the past, I couldn’t lift and instead fell flat on my ass.
I was shocked and with big, surprised eyes, I looked up at her from the floor and when our eyes met she busted out laughing. And then the whole room busted out laughing, including me. That laughter, which went on for awhile, released all the tension and nervous energy and the rest of the class was awesome. She completely relaxed and the energy became light and fun. It was a great experience for everyone present.
Finding Humor in Your Day
Do you need some humor to help you lighten up today? Even if you aren’t necessarily tense, we will all benefit by coming back into alignment with Spirit, with who we really are, and this is the key to how humor benefits our mental health.
Humor as a Daily Practice for Mental Health
Start your day by thinking back on some humorous, memorable moments from your past. And as you chuckle remember that Spirit loves fun. The act of laughing and smiling brings you back into alignment with your Highest and Best Self. And don’t forget that this is how humor improves our mental health.
Humor and Yoga: A Winning Combination
And hey, don’t forget the power of yoga! Just like humor, yoga can release tension, improve mental health, and restore your light within.
Remember, in a world that often takes itself too seriously, a little humor can go a long way. So lighten up, laugh a little, and reconnect with the light and joy that lies within you.
I hope this post helped you discover various ways in which humor benefits mental health. There is nothing more important than creating alignment in body, mind, Spirit and humor does it!
