Why We Need to Laugh!

Research proves that humor is a legitimate strategy for relieving stress. This does not mean that you can laugh your way to the bank, although there is no doubt you can laugh your way out of depression, anxiety, even illness.

Participants were selected to view a 15 minute comedy video. Those who watched the video increased their scores for hopefulness by a significant amount as compared with those who did not view the video. In fact, the increase was"statistically significant," which, according to the researchers means that humor can be seen as the "best medicine" for increasing a person's level of hope. Humor creates a positive chain reaction in responses.

Humor replaces negative thoughts with positive ones, thus fostering hope in people.

Positive emotions stimulate thought and prompt people to replace habitual responses with more creative paths of thought and action.

This course of action leads to greater sense of self worth and self esteem, especially when dealing with stressful situations.

A greater sense of self worth can also lead to the development of a plan of action for specific problems. It can also increase the person's perception that he can overcome the problem.

It is a self-feeding loop that begins with laughter!

Happy Laughing at least 5 times of laughter a day is Great for YOU!!!

Why Meditation Works

I know now why meditation makes you calm and relaxed. Studies have shown the benefits of meditation which include stress reduction, a sense of well-being and better health.

Meditation requires two things : alertness and abandon. These two contrary positions placed together cancel each other out resulting in a sense of "freedom in the void."

Because it requires attention and alertness, meditation increases brain activity in the frontal lobes. In essence, it develops the executive functions. At the same time, it develops the "letting go" that results when attention becomes rhythmic and steady.

The juxtaposition of these two contrary movements during the meditation process accounts for the deep release that comes after 10 minutes of sustained attention.