I was a serious child who grew up to be a serious woman. I used to think that serious was good and everything else was frivolous and a waste of time. During my 40s, however, I kept hearing messages about having more fun. I started to take notice.
This is what I learned. Laughter and play bring us into the present. Through joyful activity and discovery without specific goals we can meet our real selves in the here and now. And laughter has tremendous healing powers. My first – and ongoing – teacher was Tracy Shave who is a laughter yoga teacher and facilitates wonderful Giggle Workshops where adults can practise creative play. I’ve also learned from Bharti Kerai and Kama Frankling, both inspiring women who use play in their practices, and I’ve built both play and laughter into my life as essential spiritual habits.
Are you a bit serious? Would you like another easy – and fun – route to getting more present? And after all presence is the holy grail of personal development ; we all know how important it is but achieving more presence in our lives is a different thing entirely.
Here it is then: find more excuses to laugh, and if you can even try a laughter yoga class. It’s much easier than you might imagine to laugh intentionally rather than waiting for something funny to happen. And ask yourself, ‘how much play is in my life? How could I incorporate play, even just a little, into my day?’ If you think you need a little help to shed your seriousness, one of these lovely ladies might be just the person you need to talk to.
Please comment and let me know what your experience is and even if this post has prompted you to seek out a little more fun.
It is very important to play. Remember kid’s creativity is the best. By playing, we tend to expand our creativity.
So true! Thank you for your comment :-)
I now take unplugged fun days. No work, no emails, no phone, no computer. Tough at first, but wonderful when you follow through.
I’d love to do that. At the moment my odd work patterns and my caring responsibilities mean I have to stay connected, but I do sneak out for dog walks without the phone sometimes!
I hate being serious! I much prefer a light-hearted outlook on life, and frequently laugh at myself when I catch myself doing something completely contrary to how I like to think I am. A sense of humour helps to make things feel less personal too, no matter how serious they might first appear. Certainly works for me too. Oh, and I love laughter yoga!
Nice to meet another laughter yoga enthusiast. Wonderful to laugh at ourselves, too, isn’t it?
Harriet Thank you for the lovely mention. We are so alike in many ways. Believe it or not I was also a serious child and a serious adult. After my divorce I said to myself ‘This serious approach isn’t working, what if I have fun instead?’ and so started my journey of adventure, madness, and fun towards living an ‘Almost Stress Free’ life. I am so happy to have been part of your journey and I look forward to us helping each other along the way xx
We do have a lot in common, Kama. You are an inspiring example x
I love the fact you play now. Play is not a bad thing but a different way in which to interact with the world – sort of a tool in our tool box!
Yes! And the more tools the better! When I remind myself that play is a strategy then I make time for it.
“Laughter and play bring us into the present.” I love this Harriet.
My children always remind me to play. When they ask me to play games with them, my first thought is sometimes about all the things that I have to get done, but then they say “or are you too busy?” and those thoughts float right away because I never want to be too busy for them.
As you said, play makes us present, and this is one reason why children are so good at being present. They are always playing!
This is so true, both about it being important to play with our children and that they are present. We tend to forget how to play and how to be present as we grow up. The brilliant thing is that we can learn again and children are a great help with that. Thanks for your comment.
Great point! I have always wanted to try laughter yoga. There are no classes I know of in my city, but maybe I can just be a crazy-woman in my living room and practice intentional laughter! It might make me feel better!
There are probably lots of clips on YouTube which might keep you company. Good luck!
Thank you for this post Harriet. I have been waaaay too serious lately. My son does help me with that though. But, I remember when I first started working with my coach she had me go to a park and swing and go down slides, which I now get to do with my little one!
I’m glad you’ve had a reminder, Carrie! Years ago our family therapist gave me similar advice. Children are so wise – we can learn a lot from them! xx
At first I felt so sorry for you. My sisters and I developed a very dark but very funny sense of humor over the years, resulting in what I like to call my belly laugh of the day. Then I remembered that there was a time when I neither laughed, nor read books, both of which are like life’s blood to me. I was fortunate to have the sisters I have, and even during that dark time of no joy in my life, I was able to pull myself back. Isn’t it curious how responsibility can weigh so heavily on our spirits.
Cheers to you, Madame Maverick Bluestocking! You also did what you had to do! I can’t wait to tell my sisters there exist laughter yoga teachers and Giggle Workshops!
Wow, sounds as if you have a fabulous family! Laughter Yoga is a real thing – if you google it you will see how many groups there are worldwide! And it’s such a blessing that we now have people, even in the reserved UK, who will facilitate fun and play for adults who have forgotten how. Thanks for your comment :-)
As someonewho does stand up comedy and loves being a live performer, I couldn’t agree more that fun brings us into the present, and actually I hadn’t thought of it like that before – I like the thought! I do try and see the funny side of things, it makes life easier.
cheers,
Gordon
Thanks Gordon. See, you are doing important work which changes people. What a wonderful thing to bring people into the present with laughter!