Episode #201 Laugh Out Loud

Three Problems

• A day without laughter often feels heavier.
• Many of us grew up in homes where emotional expression was discouraged.
• There is a fine line between laughing with others and laughing at them.

Seven Principles

• We can find joy in even life’s most difficult moments.
• We can take life seriously without being too serious.
• Laughter is not only good for our emotional health but for our physical health as well.
• Laughter has the power to cultivate friendship and deepen intimacy.
• We don’t need to be the funniest person in the room in order to bring joy to others.
• Laughter is a helpful, if not essential, part of the grieving process.
• Poking fun at those we love may occasionally be a form of expressing our love.

Three Practices

• When grieving the loss of a loved one, reflect on the times that you laughed together.
• Learn to be confident enough in yourself that others have the freedom to laugh at you.
• Whenever you make a joke at someone’s expense, follow-up later to ensure that it was not inadvertently hurtful.