LAUGHTER MEDICINE

It amazes me how researchers are gradually finding that there’s a huge amount of truth in old wives tales and sayings. ‘Laughter is the best medicine’ is a classic. Are you aware just how seriously laughter is being taken nowadays?

Scientists believe that laughter came before speech in our evolution and certainly in child development a baby will be laughing before it talks. Laughter may originally have been a shared relief after the passing of danger. Children find it easy to play and laugh, but as we grow into adults we’re so overwhelmed by busyness and ‘shoulds’ and ‘should nots’ that we lose that spontaneous ability, which is a shame, because it’s one of the healthiest things you can do.

Did you know that laughing 100 times is the equivalent of 15 minutes on an exercise bike? Laughter works out your diaphragm and your abdominal, respiratory, facial, leg and back muscles. It also lowers blood pressure and helps strengthen your immune system. That’s the physical side.

Mentally it’s magic! It alleviates stress, disperses depression, strengthens human bonds and relieves anger and anxiety. In fact, a lack of humour (often owing to low self-esteem) will slow your thought processes down, making you more prone to anxiety, stress and depression.

Humour in the workplace is fundamental in order to create cooperation, trust, team spirit, good morale and communication. Those few minutes of banter or telling jokes does everyone a power of good. If you’re a boss try to make sure you inject humour into situations and encourage others to do likewise. When people laugh together they work better together.

If you work in a humourless place, then try to log on to a joke website or something similar for five minutes during the day, or take a comedy book with you and read it at lunchtime.

Laughter is brilliant for diffusing situations. A light-hearted remark in the middle of a difficult problem relieves tension. If someone is angry and you can manage to make them laugh the anger fades. If you’re telling your children off or having a row with a teenager, humour goes a long way towards getting your point across.

I know a lot of this seems obvious, but far too many of us lead lives with an inadequate amount of laughter, which is very, very sad. It leads to ill-health, rage and unnecessary stress. Make up your mind to inject lots of laughter into your life. Even smiling and chuckling a lot will help. Read funny stories and jokes or, even better, tell funny stories and jokes. Watch comedy DVDs and sitcoms or listen to comedy CDs, read funny books and most of all find funny people to spend your time with. Develop your own sense of humour by trying to see the absurdity in events around you. Once you start looking you’ll find yourself laughing at situations all over the place instead of becoming irritable and you’ll find that other people start laughing with you.

My personal favourite is stand up comics and the ones that make me laugh the most are without doubt Eddie Izzard (a genius!), Alan Davies and Lee Evans. Give them a try and see if they make you laugh and let me know what makes you laugh too!

CHANGE YOUR MIND

We’ve all heard the ‘is the glass half-full or half-empty?’ question. It’s a way of asking if you’re an optimist or a pessimist. Optimists tend to regard the world as a positive place. They believe that everything works out for the best in the end while pessimists seem to make their lives unnecessarily miserable by always assuming the worst.

Human beings have delved into discussions on human happiness since ancient times, although, until fairly recently, philosophers and researchers have focused more on what stops us being happy rather than what positively makes us happy. It’s interesting that in the last thirty years of the 20th century journals published 46,000 psychological papers on depression, but only 400 on joy. This has changed and there are now far more studies into mental ‘wellness’ as opposed to mental illness.

Martin Seligman, a well-known researcher in this field (and author of Learned Optimism: How to change your mind and your life) has explored why optimists are happier than pessimists and discovered that the main difference is the way they explain setbacks to themselves. It’s how we speak to ourselves inwardly that influences our attitudes. Optimists think of bad things happening as temporary problems that are not their fault and look for ways to move on from them. Pessimists see the bad things as permanent, their own fault and far-reaching.

What’s interesting is that optimists, despite being seen as reckless by some pessimists, are generally more successful. Optimism improves your health, while pessimism undermines it. In fact both of these states of mind are self-fulfilling prophecies because if you’re a pessimist you’re bound to feel defeated by what happens to you. If you’re an optimist you’ll tend to look for a way to overcome the problem.

Fortunately optimism can be learned! The glass can be half-full or half-empty, but you’ll be happier, healthier and more successful if you think of it as half-full. Start to talk to yourself more positively. Instead of calling yourself ‘stupid’ when you make a mistake try to say ‘Well, I learned from that mistake’. Instead of saying ‘I can’t’ try saying ‘I can’t at the moment’. Instead of seeing things that you do as right or wrong, see them as learning processes. Some basic changes in the vocabulary you use when listening to your inner voice makes enormous changes in the way you think about events around you.

Once you realise how much the way you think affects the way you tackle life, you can start to make changes to those thoughts and become a lot more optimistic. We’re not perfect. We all make mistakes so don’t keep blaming yourself. Unexpected problems happen and they help us grow as we deal with them. If you start to see life that way you’ll feel much better emotionally and you’ll be happier and healthier. It may take a while. Changing the way your mind works is almost as hard as changing your body, but it can certainly be done and it’s worth the effort.

(If you want to do a quick test to see whether you’re an optimist or a pessimist, then check out www.spiritualityhealth.com/cgi/optimism)

BLACK AND WHITE

Although black really absorbs all colour and white reflects all colour we still think of them both as colours and they have a psychological effect on us.

WHITE

‘The future lies before you, like paths of pure white snow’.

White gives us a sense of space and freedom, although an excess amount of it can also be cold and isolating. It’s good for lessening shock or despair. Use it when you want to reflect on things without making any decisions

White gives us clarity, peace and comfort and you’ll be attracted to white if you have a need to reconnect with your inner self. It’s associated with a higher consciousness and spirituality and is wonderfully cleansing.

If you like the colour you probably want to simplify your life and to escape from outside pressures. You may be in a transitional phase in your life. If you dislike it you need to make more time to think and may want to move on from something emotional.

The right amount of white will leave you well-balanced, optimistic and living according to your inner beliefs. It’s great for getting rid of negative feelings. However, avoid it if you’re lonely or if you need to participate and make decisions. Remember that warm shades of white are better for you than cold.

BLACK

‘The blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice’.

Traditionally it’s a colour associated with authority, power, death and mystery. However, it’s also protective, sophisticated and inspires self-confidence and strength. It’s a passive colour and too much of it will prevent you growing and changing. It’s not good if you’re feeling a lack of self-worth.

If you like it then you’re probably strong-willed, opinionated and disciplined. Be careful though, because you may be inflexible and too independent. Black is often used to hide behind while someone is working out their true identity, which is why it’s so popular with young people. If you don’t like it you probably want control and are seeking personal power.

Black is a good colour to use if you don’t want to be influenced by other people, or if you want to be self-sufficient and in control. Ideally you should add small amounts of other strong colours with black. In clothing this could be jewellery, a scarf or tie, or underwear and in décor it might be a bright piece of fabric, a rug or vase. They will counterbalance the negativity you may absorb from too much black.

GREY

‘All cats are grey in the dark’. (Thomas Lodge)

Grey is associated with independence, self-control and self-reliance. However, it’s also a colour that denotes evasion and non-commitment. People who use a lot of grey may want to remain aloof and uninvolved, but this can lead to loneliness and self-criticism if you don’t balance yourself with other colours.

If you love the colour you’re very much an individual and if you dislike it you probably need support from family and friends.

Remember to rest and relax and boost your energy, otherwise you may find yourself drained and passive. Like black, this is a colour best used along with amounts of other brighter colours.

GUT FEELINGS!

Gut feeling, intuition or sixth sense. They mean the same: the ability to sense or know something that seems true without being able to reason or explain why. In recent years there’s been a great deal of research into the subject and it appears that we definitely have some kind of sixth sense, which is based in our ancestral heritage.

When he lived by his instincts man had to be constantly aware of the possibility of danger and what was happening around him. Those who were able to read a situation accurately and act on it quickly were more likely to survive. We are all born with intuition and as children we use it freely, but unfortunately, as we grow up, our minds become constrained by preconceptions and we lose this ability.

Most of our everyday thinking, feeling and acting happen outside our conscious awareness. Think how many things we do automatically: eating, speaking, driving, listening, running…..the list is endless. Our intuition is also automatic. It’s information that emerges from our subconscious in a similar way to a computer searching for files. A quarter of a second of information enters our brains, like a keyword, and pulls up anything we know from past experience or knowledge.

This is when we have a ‘gut feeling’. It’s not imagined - it’s real. The subconscious mind works ten times faster than the conscious mind so we just don’t process the information in our normal way. It’s a kind of unconscious association process.

The good news is that you can practise using your intuition and get in touch with your gut feelings. Begin by writing down any thoughts you have when you’re relaxed, ideas that suddenly pop into your head or bits of your dreams that stick in your mind. Try to give your physical hearing a rest for half an hour every day. Sit and think or meditate and sit in silence for a while. Have a notepad handy and jot down thoughts that go through your mind. (It’s no coincidence that some solutions to major inventions have happened while the inventor was dreaming, or out walking, or in the bath!).

Start to listen to what your instincts tell you. It may seem difficult to begin with, but the more you follow your gut feelings the easier it becomes. Remember though: intuition is fantastic for some things, but not to be relied upon for others. For example, it’s excellent for judging people or for using along with creativity and expertise…..but not so good for what numbers will win the lottery! Ideally you should use your sixth sense together with what you know in your conscious mind.

Your gut feelings can help you enormously in dealing with people, in meeting the person you love, in buying material possessions, such as a house, or a car, or taking a new job, because all these things are subjective. Our brains absorb many clues from our surroundings, but too often we ignore the inner voice urging us in the right direction. If you learn to use intuition wisely it will prove a very useful tool in your life. However, always bear in mind that it’s to replace the unknown, not to replace what you already know.

SHADES

So far I’ve covered the main colours in the spectrum, but there are many shades between. In general, the more intense the colour the stronger the energies you’ll pick up from it, so in some cases you might want to choose the paler shades of a colour. For example, if you have a tendency towards depression then you would be better to avoid too much dark blue and go for lighter blues, in order to receive the right balance. If you have a tendency to be hyperactive, then a bright intense orange may make you feel even more so. Instead, use shades of peach and apricot so that you receive the benefits of the colour without absorbing an excess of energy. Two other colours that are very effective in our lives are pink and turquoise.

PINK

'Slow buds the pink dawn like a rose'.

Pink is seen as a romantic and charming colour, mostly worn and used by women, although there are times when it becomes fashionable for men. It’s associated with an unselfish kind of love and protection and is playful, tender, warm and nurturing. Be careful though, because large amounts of pink in your life can make you feel weak, both physically and emotionally.

If you like pink you’ll have a very affectionate and loving nature, but you may sometimes be weak-willed and need support from others. Try to work towards being more self-reliant and make sure you have a good balance of other colours in your life to help you.

If you dislike pink you probably have some unresolved emotional issues with one or both of your parents.

Pink is particularly good for when you need to be kind to yourself. It’s soothing and increases a sense of self-love and self-worth. It also lessens any feelings of irritation or aggression. Therefore an excellent colour to be used in places such as prisons and psychiatric hospitals. It’s a great colour to wear if you need to be sympathetic and compassionate towards others, but is best avoided if you’re not feeling very assertive or for someone who’s emotionally immature.

TURQUOISE

'Place on your hand a turquoise blue, success will bless whate'er you do'.

Turquoise is a lovely mixture of peaceful green and soothing blue. It’s very much a calming colour and is great for mental strain and tiredness. An excellent colour t have in the bedroom, if not too vibrant. It’s also a colour for a fresh start and for youthful feelings. It heightens sensitivity, creativity and communication. It’s a good colour to surround yourself with when you’re feeling lonely.

Think of the different turquoise and aqua colours we find in the sea. Looking at the sea is very calming for us and so is the colour. It’s a refreshing tonic and works especially well in hot climates.

If you dislike the colour you’re probably shutting off your true feelings or you’re afraid of change and live in a bit of an emotional rut.
Use turquoise when you want to increase your emotional resistance or when you’re trying to overcome an addiction. It’s particularly good for boosting your immune system and is excellent for tense or nervous personalities. It will help you feel fresh and young.

BE CREATIVE!

‘Happiness….lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort.’(Franklin D. Roosevelt)

Throughout history creativity has been used to help healing. Studies have shown that it helps us live longer and improves our self-esteem. It also stops us feeling isolated and lessens depression. It’s a very necessary part of a healthy well-balanced lifestyle.

Creating is about generating new ideas or concepts. It helps us to open up an inner emotional part of ourselves, allowing us to make choices and decisions and have some control over something in our lives. I’m not talking just about arts and crafts. Other pursuits like cooking, decorating or gardening, for example, require creative expression.

Psychologists have identified a state of the mind that they call ‘flow’, because it’s like a current of water pulling you along. It’s when people are so absorbed in what they’re doing that they feel fully involved and have a high level of concentration. They lose self-consciousness and focus on clear goals. There’s no fear of failure. It’s often a time altered state and is rewarding and seemingly effortless. In fact, it’s almost like a form of meditation. Can you remember times when you’ve felt this? Can you remember what you were doing?

Okay, so how do you go about being creative? First, you need to find what appeals to you. Is there something you’ve always wanted to do or something you did when you were a child that gave you huge enjoyment? Look and listen to everything around you to find out what inspires you. People are motivated to create by a need for varied stimulation, or to communicate ideas and values, or to solve problems.

Many people put off trying something new because of a little inner critic telling them they can’t do it. Ask yourself: what’s the worst that can happen? There’s no right or wrong way to create. It’s a learning experience with no restrictive rules. It’s for fulfilment and fun, not for approval. It’s play, not competition.
Here’s a list of possible things to choose from, although there are many more:

Make greetings cards, scrapbooking, jewellery making, singing, writing music, playing a musical instrument, designing clothes, painting, drawing cartoons, photography, collage, quilting, writing stories, writing poetry, gardening, woodwork, carving, sculpture, interior design, dance, amateur dramatics....

Once you’ve decided what appeals to you, then take the steps to start doing it: book a lesson, join a group, buy the materials, read books about the subject, collect pictures, visit galleries or museums, research on the internet. Make space in your life to fit it in. Go out and DO IT!

Remember: creativity improves your memory, boosts your morale, gives you a sense of well-being, helps you face adversity, makes you emotionally resilient, and lifts depression. It’s just as important as physical exercise in your life….and it’s great fun too!

ORANGE GLOW

Orange is the happiest colour’ (Frank Sinatra)


This colour is considered a sign of joy and happiness and is associated with our energy and emotions. It’s flamboyant, energetic and warm. Although it’s the least popular of the colours it has lots of beneficial qualities.

Orange mentally uplifts us and is a great colour for boosting self-esteem or renewing interest in life. It helps us forgive others and go beyond the constraints of our families or communities, so that we confidently move out in the world. It allows us to have the freedom to be ourselves and also to respect others’ freedom.

Too much orange in your environment can make you emotionally explosive, overindulgent, hyperactive and obsessed with sex. It tends to make people sexually manipulative and may create problems with money.

Too little of the colour in your life can cause you to repress your emotions and your sexuality, while making you distrustful and accentuating any feelings of guilt. You may have low self-esteem and feel uncreative and bored with your life.

If you don’t like orange then you are probably mentally and physically exhausted, in which case surround yourself with the paler shades, the peaches and apricots, in order to get the benefit without too much of the energy.

Orange is a source of laughter and zest for life. Having a balanced amount of orange surrounding you will encourage you to explore and enjoy life. This attracts people and helps you become comfortable socially, with an easy connection to others. It helps you form positive relationships. With the right balance of orange you will be friendly, caring, creative, optimistic and in touch with your gut feelings. It also enables you to let go of the past.

Our self-respect is related to the colour orange. It can work as an anti-depressant. It uplifts and enlivens us while giving us a feeling of warmth and security. Use it when you need some lightness and laughter around you. Avoid it if you’re feeling confused, frustrated or claustrophobic.

It’s the colour for activity and exercise. It strengthens your immune system and aids digestion. It’s a wonderful colour for the gym, or the kitchen and anywhere that you socialise, but is best avoided in bedrooms as it can be over-stimulating and make you feel restless. Use it whenever you want to feel positive, energetic and active. Learn to love it, because it’s extremely good for you!