Live

Too many of us--myself included--live in the past, worry about future, and virtually ignore the present. “Should’ve”, “could’ve”, and “if only” moments run through our brains. But since we can’t change the past; we can only learn from it as best we can.  Worrying about the future can make it impossible to enjoy the here and now. Ignoring the present can prevent you from learning from the past or creating the future.

A psychologist taught me a useful exercise to help me be mindful of the Now. To do that, you need to become aware of all your senses.

Sit comfortably. Say the following (start by speaking out loud, then progress to thinking the words in your head).

1. I see …… [I am seeing the camellias in front of the window and a cloudy gray sky)
2. I feel ……..[I feel my toes on the carpet, my tush on the chair, and my fingers on the keyboard]
3. I hear……. [I hear my fingers contacting the computer keys along with Yanni’s piano music on Pandora]
4. I smell…..  [I smell dried lavender)
5. I taste…..   [I taste coffee sweetened with honey]

This exercise helps me when I am in an infinite-looping mode that has my mind buried in the past or future instead of working on the present.  It helps me stay grounded when anxieties kick in.

Laugh

I know you’ve heard it said a million times that laughter is the best medicine. In a lot of ways, that is true!  It reduces stress by decreasing cortisol levels, increasing oxygenation to the brain, and stimulating the production of endorphins.  It can boost your immune system and increase your tolerance of pain.  It is even a gentle form of exercise.  Most children laugh about 200 times a day, but by the time we are adults we usually find ourselves laughing less than 10 times per day.  Talk about sad! If you find a way to add some laughter to your day, you can help free your inner child.

I learned these next exercises on a course to become a Certified Laughter Leader. It was THE most fun course I have ever taken, but my abdominals literally ached afterwards from all the laughing!)

• Hold a straw in your mouth horizontal to the floor.
• First hold it only with your lips without letting your teeth touch the straw. How do you feel?
• Then hold the straw with your teeth without letting your lips touch it. How do you feel
• For most of us, when we hold the straw only with our lips (which simulates a frown), we feel slightly sad. Likewise when we hold the straw only with our teeth (which simulates a smile), wel feel happier. Our facial muscles alone trigger neurotransmitters that are responsible for these emotions. Lesson: sometimes just faking a big grin can help boost your mood!

You can also try running around the house (or even standing still) while repeating HA HA HOHOHO three times or more can also elevate your mood.

For more information about therapeutic laughter, laughter clubs in your area and certification courses to become a laughter leader, go to http://www.worldlaughtertour.com/.

Love

We all do better when we’re connected socially with people to love who also love us, warts and all. If you’re looking for an exercise to help you love better and deeper, here’s one I’ve developed from studying The Four Agreements by Miguel Ruiz:

Do some stream-of-consciousness writing about what is percolating in your mind when you think about

1. What it means to be impeccable with your word
2. Not taking anything personally
3. Not making assumptions about other people or yourself
4. Always making your best effort on any given day (even if that might change from one day to the next)