(I am on a mission to re-introduce the laughing habit back into my life)
As the curtain rises on another New Year, I think I’m on fairly safe ground when I congratulate you all on successfully drawing up an impressive goals list.
I think it’s a pretty safe bet you will have made reference to improving work/life balance, being a better communicator, being present and living more in the moment.
Buzz words like ‘mindfulness’, ‘authenticity’ and ‘owning it’ probably feature alongside the staple topics of diet, travel and productivity.
But how many of you have actually put somewhere near the top: ‘Have a good laugh?”
It’s probably safe to say few – if any.
And yet it’s so important. Way too important to miss off any list of resolutions/goals, call it what you will.
OK, so I know there’s not been much to laugh about recently with topics dominating the news such as the horrors of war in Ukraine, cost of living crisis, political farce, Covid still keeping us in its grip and looking over our shoulder…I could go on, but at risk of throwing a fire blanket over the whole New Year feel good vibe, I’ll leave it there – you get the picture, I’m sure.
I speak from personal experience when I reflect additionally on a year of additional stress with moving house and suffering a serious health setback.
And yet in the build up to the festive break, I’ve re-remembered how important it is to have a laugh in life, even – or perhaps especially – when the world news is so downright depressing.
Before 2022, I used to turn on a 30 minute comedy show (sometimes on the radio dependant on timing) both first thing in the morning and last thing at night instead of the news.
Then, as we all tend to do, even when we know things are good for us, when life gets busy and stressful we stop doing the things that lift our mood. I let this habit fall away in 2022 and genuinely felt more grumpy as a result. Why did I ever stop and allow my mood to sink to my boots?
Recently I was watching a funny video film with friends which had us all roaring with laughter – Life of Brian – the good old classic! We were so upbeat afterwards it reminded me of my previous habit and made me resolve to pick up where I’d left off as we head into the New Year and all it might hold.
Remembering what they say about it taking 17 facial muscles to smile and 43 to frown, I am on a mission to re-introduce the laughing habit back into my life. I’m aware there is actually something called laughing yoga in the world out there for anyone interested in formalising it. I wouldn’t go that far, however the premise is the same though, for me, it has to be genuinely funny and there’s plenty to choose from in this world of on demand entertainment at our digital fingertips.
So go ahead, put fun front and centre of those goals – and stick to it. It will make you feel better about yourself and life in general – and what’s more, you’ll show up as a whole nicer person to those around you.
Here’s to a great coming year ahead!
In today’s world positivity has to become your weapon of choice.
