Laugh Your Way Through Life
Enter any Latina household and you’ll be hard pressed to not find laughter. Maybe it’s something in the masa, or maybe we just understand that life is tough, but better together. Whatever it is, laughter keeps us young and healthy and we should all embrace every opportunity for joy!
Laughter is a powerful tool that can help us cope with difficult situations and improve our overall well-being. According to scientific research, laughing triggers the release of endorphins, the body's natural feel-good chemicals, which can help reduce stress and promote a positive mood.
I definitely know firsthand how challenging it can be to maintain a positive outlook, especially when facing adversity. However, there are a few science-backed strategies we can use to cultivate laughter and positivity in our lives.
Find humor in the situation: Researchers have found that finding humor in a difficult situation can help us cope with stress and improve our emotional well-being. Try to find the absurd or ridiculous aspects of the situation. Is there anything that seems particularly funny or silly? Focusing on these aspects can help shift your perspective and allow you to see the situation in a more lighthearted way.
Spend time with loved ones: Social support is crucial for our emotional well-being. Spending time with friends and family who make us laugh and feel good can help boost our mood and reduce stress levels. Make an effort to prioritize quality time with loved ones, even if it's just a phone call or video chat.
Practice gratitude: Practicing gratitude has been shown to improve overall well-being and increase positive emotions. Take a few minutes each day to reflect on the things you are thankful for, no matter how small they may seem. This can help shift your focus from negative to positive and cultivate a more optimistic outlook.
Watch or read something funny: Laughter is contagious, and watching or reading something funny can help us get in the mood to laugh. Choose a comedy that you know will make you laugh out loud. The physical act of laughing can also help to release tension and stress. I’ve cut out watching horror, or crime shows and focus on women-led dramas, comedies, or podcasts only and it really shows how even the media we consume can shift your day!
Engage in laughter yoga: Laughter yoga is a form of yoga that combines deep breathing and laughter to help reduce stress and promote relaxation. There are many laughter yoga groups and classes available online, and participating in one of these can be a fun and effective way to cultivate laughter and positivity in your life.
Or if you’re like me, just sign yourself up for a new type of workout class and laugh your way through the learning. I was too busy thinking how crazy I was for not moving my body sooner that my natural reaction was to laugh when things were challenging. Now 12 classes in, I‘m basically a pro and the teacher says, “beautiful, Steph”. *Get’s told beautiful once, writes a whole blog about it.*
You get the idea! Laughter is truly medicine, and it's important to prioritize our emotional well-being and cultivate positivity in our lives. By finding humor in difficult situations, spending time with loved ones, practicing gratitude, watching or reading something funny, and engaging in laughter yoga, we can harness the power of laughter to help us cope with stress and promote a positive outlook on life.
