Happiness and laughter

We live in a world that believes in postponing happiness and laughter exemplified by some of these statements:

- I'll be happy when I earn $ 100.000 a year- I'll be happy when I get my dream house- I'll be happy when I have enough money to quit my job

Happiness isn't associated with wealth and riches. In my travels to different parts of the world, I found that the happiest people were often the poorest.They were thankful for the little they had, and were free from worries, stress and anxiety.

Most of us believe that health and happiness are the most important things in our lives. As parents we wish for health and happiness for our children. There is no denying that the two are closely connected to one another. Unless you have good health, happiness is not fulfilled.

Happiness may mean different things to different people. Certain people receive happiness from hard work, while others can be totally fulfilled sitting by a stream with a fishing rod.

It proves that we are all unique, and that we function at different levels of personal satisfaction and happiness. There are some things I like to share with you that if practiced will make most of us happier.

12 ways to increase personal happiness

Practice laughing every day. If you don't use it, you are liable to lose it!

Practice smiling every day. Your smile is your personal signature. It helps putting you in a happier frame of mind, as well as stimulating those around you to smile back.

Figure out what makes you happy and laugh. Make a list of things that trigger happiness and laughter for you. Keep the list handy and pursue it vigorously.

Hang out with happy people who enjoy laughing and make you laugh. Remember that happiness and laughter are contagious.

Plan 'fun' and 'play' times in your day-timer or your calendar. Don't plan work and busy times only. If you don't plan for fun and play, it won't happen.

Be kind to yourself. Don't load up all your available time without any breaks. Learn to say 'No' once in a while. After all you only live once.Believe me, the universe will continue even if you stop once in a while.

Learn to laugh at yourself and your mistakes.

Look for the humor around you, bumper stickers, funny signs, blooper ads. Become a 'humor spotter.'

Share your embarrassing experiences with others. What was totally devastating at the time can be hilarious after the fact.

Recall some of the funny things that happened to you at the end of the day. Write them down and look them up when you're feeling down in order to give you a lift.

Don't be afraid to do something silly once in a while. Let the child, the clown escape from within and have some fun.

Practice optimism, because optimists are more successful and happier in life.

Laughter and happiness

Laughter, as reported by worldwide scientific research and studies is known to relax muscles, reduce stress, pain, tension and depression; improve respiration, oxygination, circulation, digestion, stamina, sleep, and self-confidence; strengthening of the immune system; increase the count of natural killer cells that attack cancers and tumors; raise antibody levels; make people feel good about themselves.

Above all, laughter is fun, helps us connect and reconnect with others with a sense of happiness and playfulness. Laughter is one of the easiest types of meditation providing us with instant relaxation. It disconnects the mind from the world around us.

When laughing, you cannot think of anything else compared to other types of meditation where you have to concentrate deeply to take your mind away from other thoughts.

Laughing is not necessarily caused by, or based on anything in particular. An example is the comedy TV series 'Seinfeld,'which was totally put together on nothing issues and events, and still proved to be extremely funny.

Dr. Madan Kataria, a physician from Mumbai,India developed 'Laughter Yoga' based on fake laughter In his research he found that fake laughter is just as effective as real laughter.

Laugh at yourself.

Laugh with others. Associate with people who enjoy fun and laughs

Opt for humor in movies, videos, TV shows, theater productions.

Collect humorous material such as cartoons, posters, jokes, funny books, pictures, toys.

Access humor on the Internet. There are many web sites exclusively dedicated to humor.

"To lead a good life, never lose your sense of humor.The happiest people are the ones who are able to laugh at themselves."