Mindfulness and Laughter: Gaining Clarity While Giggling
Life is funny. Throughout the day, there are plenty of humorous moments that we tend to ignore. We get so caught up in being earnest that we miss opportunities to gain clarity while giggling. Sure, there are times when it is considered inappropriate to laugh, but if we're honest, we'll see that if we're suppressing a smile it's a sign that we're fully present. Not only that, but these are times when we could most use a little laughter to bring levity to an overly-serious situation. The best business meetings--and funerals--I've ever attended included plenty of bust-a-gut moments. Years ago, during a two-week silent meditation retreat, I got the giggles. Oh, I know, you're supposed to be *serious* about meditating for five hours straight, but I couldn't help it. It all started when I was roused from my peaceful posture by a certain "KLUNK!" from across the room. I opened my eyes to see that one of my retreat buddies had fallen asleep and landed with his head against the wall. Momentarily unnerved, he quickly straightened up, closed his eyes and put on his best meditator's face. I, on the other hand, completely lost it. I managed to stifle the first few giggles, but then they started escaping in little bursts. I tried the ol' coughing technique, hoping to disguise my snorts as expectoration, but I wasn't fooling anyone. Pretty soon, I saw (well, I did have my eyes open) others looking my way. Nobody else was laughing. In fact, nobody else was even smiling. Clearly, I was the only one who had allowed myself to get caught up in that unexpected moment of hilarity. I was chagrined, and then annoyed, and continued to watch my response to this incident shift over the next few minutes. Had it been funny? Of course. Were we supposed to be concentrating fully on the moment? Absolutely. Anything else would be attachment to past regrets or worries about the future. Okay, so we were focusing on watching our thoughts, and this little interruption was not part of what was going on in our heads. But isn't ignoring what's happening around us the same kind of thing that gets us into trouble back in the Real World? We go about our lives, obsessing silently, moving mindlessly, getting things done. We fail to notice the wonder and joy and beauty all around us because we are in full scowl mode about the things in our heads. Well, I'm all for taking time to laugh. Give me a giggling guru over a dour taskmaster every time. The greatest guides--in business, education, and personal success--are those who encourage us to invite hilarity into our lives whenever it happens to appear. Open your eyes to the silliness around you, and laugh out loud. It's good for your heart in every way. Maya Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse offering specialized mindfulness training in Portland, Oregon. She teaches eyes-wide-open ways to get calm, clear and creative. Her work has inspired thinkers in over 100 countries. To subscribe to her free weekly ezine, the Friday Mind Massage, please visit http://www.massageyourmind.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Yoga therapy for stressed out motormenTimes of India, India - 10 hours agoThe railways have now tied up with an NGO to study the effect of regular yoga on the health of stressed out motormen. Kaivalyadhama Yoga Institute ... |
Hatha yoga at Rowley Public LibraryIpswich Chronicle, USA - 10 hours agoThe Rowley Public Library offers a mixed level Hatha yoga class for adults of all fitness levels Wednesdays Sept. 3-Oct. 29, 5:30-6:45 pm, in the Community ... |
Yoga with a kickKOLD-TV, AZ - 16 hours agoBy Jenny Anchondo - email If you're tight and lack overall flexibility, the last thing you should attempt is yoga, right? Wrong. ... |
The conventions: Good for a laughBoston Globe, United States - 8 hours agoI kept my eyes glued to Sara Avant Stover's pieces on the Yoga Journal website, where she has written on subjects like "The DNC's Challenge: Can You Walk ... |
Yoga at the River’s Edge continuesMarshfield Mariner, USA - 14 hours agoNorth and South Rivers Watershed Association’s Yoga at the River’s Edge series will continue through Sept. 20. Weekly classes, taught by certified yoga ... |
Nikita, not dressed for the occasion?Times of India, India - 6 hours agoYoga guru Yogi Ashwini recently organised a spiritual healing session to promote the practice of yoga. Former Miss India-Universe Nikita Anand rued that she ... |
Martha's Vineyard Magazine |
Finding your yogaMartha's Vineyard Magazine, MA - Aug 29, 2008Just like Goldilocks trying to find the right porridge and bed, this writer had to sample different styles of yoga before settling into a groove that worked ... |
Yoga - Google News
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Coping with Stress
Everyone experiences stress at some point in their life. In fact, stress is a natural part of life.
Stress Management and Mastery: 5 Tips for Positive Anger Management
A grandfather, whose grandson came to him angry at a schoolmate who had done him an injustice, said,"I too, at times, have felt a great hate for those who have taken so much, with no sorrow for what they do. But hate wears you down and doesn't hurt your enemy.
Rising to the Top: Overcoming Bad Situations
We've all been there, right? We find ourselves living with the weight of our circumstances growing heavier by the day. We agonize over the "what if" questions and wonder just how we'll ever get out from under the burdens we bear.
Can You Say Yes To Less Stress
A little stress is good for us until it becomes
overwhelming! Here are my top tactics to saying yes to less
stress.Don't go without protection.
Taming September: Avoiding Fall Frenzy
When September rolls around, does it generally hit you like a ton of bricks? Do you feel as if that invisible being in charge of your life has suddenly ratcheted up the speed on your treadmill? WAY up?This year, take on September with some new tools and expectations. See if you can stand up to it more strongly than you have in the past.
Stress Management: 3 Rules for Dealing with Difficult People
Seems like more and more they are all around us. You know who I'm talking about - all those difficult people who seem to cross our path everyday.
Balancing Acts: Keeping Work and Life in Equilibrium
In the fast-paced world that we live in today, it seems as though it's hard to find enough time to do everything that needs to be done. Days at work are long, but too often don't seem to be long enough? we bring home what we can't finish and end up creating highly stressful situations for those around us.
Five Steps to Stress Relief
So, you've recognised that you are suffering from stress and you want to do something about it - congratulations, you are now TWO steps ahead of most people and well on the road to recovery from dis-ease. These five easy steps will get you well on your way and give you some momentum to keep going as well as gearing your systems up for the challenge.
4 Steps to Teaching Your Family to Treat You Better
Case #1- Elizabeth, a 40 year old homemaker was always feeling angry and "used" by her family, constantly saying that everybody took advantage of her. She felt that she worked like a slave but her family showed no appreciation or acknowledgement of her many efforts.
Is Your Workplace Suffering from Contagious Stress?
We wonder how many of you might recognise this scenario? Although it happened with a male manager, it could apply to men or women. The manager we worked with had been promoted to a more senior role and was experiencing demands from all sides.
Stress Management: Declare Your Freedom From...
1)Excessive worryNo, I'm not saying "don't worry, be happy."Well-used worry can alert us to areas in our lives that need attention and change.
Six Questions To Make Your Workplace Stress-Free
Many CEOs see stress as an intractable problem which would cost too much to
tackle properly -- or alternatively something that only affects 'whiners' whom their
organisations would be better off without. Employee assistance programmes,
corporate gym memberships and flexible hours are seen as expensive, of dubious
effectiveness, and in the worst case, as mollycoddling staff.
Conquer Stress and Anxiety Naturally With This Safe and Effective Method
Rhodiola Rosea is the latest natural remedy to join the arsenal
of natural anxiety and stress reducers.Rhodiola Rosea, also known as Golden Root, is a native plant of
arctic Siberia.
7 Tips to Help You De-stress & Handle Your Problems
Life would be so wonderful if it weren't for other people. Let's face it, people will upset you.
Stress Management: Problem Land or Solution Land
In my experience, most of us spend a lot more time living in problem land, griping and complaining, than we do in solution land, working hard and enjoying solving problems.It's almost become a national past time.
Mindfulness and Panic: Ask Your Anxiety
Panic.Heart racing.
Social Phobia
Imagine going through your whole life in the constant fear of worrying about the others' opinion for you, saying only such things which might approve you in the peer group and scared to go out in the public to escape the scrutinizing eyes of the people.There are people who would rather prefer to stay at home for an endless time period than going out of their homes.
Music Therapy: Can Music Really Soothe The Savage Beast?
It has long been suggested that "music soothes the savage beast." But is this true? And if it is, does this have any implication where humans are concerned? The answer, apparently, is yes.
The Jerk is Never Me
Comedian George Carlin once remarked, "Have your ever noticed? Anyone going slower than you is an idiot. Anyone going faster than you is a maniac.
Relieving Stress with Exercise... and Losing Body Fat in the Process!
Feeling stressed out lately? Don't worry, there is a simple and incredibly effective solution -- one that will help you lose weight in more ways than you might think!Relieving Stress with ExerciseResearch has proven that relieving stress with exercise is one of the best ways to improve your overall health. Regular exercise provides an amazing array of anti-stress benefits to the human body -- including reduced muscle tension, improved cardiovascular functioning, increased blood oxygen levels, and reduced cholesterol and triglyceride levels, just to name a few.
|
