| |  | Laughing Matters
Laughter is energizing. It is also a great stress reliever. It is good physical exercise and when we laugh we secrete endorphins which cause us to experience a sense of well-being.
So how many times have you laughed today? Not little giggles. I'm talking  delightful ha ha's with an understanding friend, unexpected laughs characterized by spitting out whatever is in your mouth, or those big belly laughs, the ones where you can't catch your breath--laughs where tears pour down your face and you are in dire need of a bathroom.
If your life doesn't contain lots of laughter, use the following tips to get into the tee-hee habit: - Ask your friends to share increasing laughter into your conversations. One good way is to exchange embarrassing stories about yourselves.
- Seek out and spend time with people who naturally make you laugh.
- Search for YouTube videos that tickle your funny bone.
- Explore what your humor style is (slapstick, sight gags, dark humor, sit-coms, etc.) and then rent or buy DVD's that make you laugh (Uncle Buck is one of my favs).
- Download a "laughing" app for your phone or buy a "laugh sack" from US Toy. Laughing is contagious and if no one is making you laugh on a regular basis, get some help.
- "Fake it 'til you make it" works with laughing. Just start fake laughing. After about 30 seconds it starts to feel real. Even when you fake it you get the same physiologic results.
One of the most enjoyable self care techniques there is is to increase your laughter quotient. In other words, don't take the world too seriously!
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