Path to Joy III: Laughter is the Best Medicine
October 15, 2008 by dr. lam · Leave a Comment
Oftentimes, we see things too grimly because we simply can’t see the humor in something. We are faced with financial issues, a departed loved one, health problems, spiritual crisis, whatever it may be. As the third and final installment in creating a path to joy to rid our soul of the shackles of fear, let’s look at the beauty of laughter.
Every day that we are alive should be a joyous one. We are all too often consumed by our own self-doubts and concerns to look outward and simply have a good laugh. I definitely set the tone for the entire office. I really enjoy laughing all day with my staff. They are a real joy to me. I really simply love spontaneous outbursts of laughter. I heard this one patient tell me that she underwent laughing therapy in which a skilled professional actually helped her see even the grimmest thing she was experiencing as laughable.
Along that spirit, here is a short, 2-minute funny one from Monty Python you might enjoy:
Path To Joy Part I: Overcoming Fear
October 13, 2008 by dr. lam · Leave a Comment
Deepak Chopra
Obviously, the wild ride of the stock market last week has left many of us (including me) in a lurch. I think many times we become paralyzed and incapacitated by fear. I am currently in the middle of reading, Deepak Chopra’s book, Why is God Laughing?, a fictional tale of an L.A. comedian whose father dies and who is visited by a strange mentor who guides him in overcoming his ego and fear. I thought it would be worth writing this blog today to be as timely as possible despite the fact that I am halfway through the book. Francisco, the mentor, tries to help Mickey, the comedian, see how his life has been crippled by fear. In the answer to a riddle offered, Francisco says, “Fear tells many lies but is always believed. If the worst happens, fear will be greatly relieved. On the day you were born fear poisoned your heart. Fear will still be there on the day you depart.”
Chopra’s lesson is that we all have an internal optimism that is waiting to come out if we let it rather than letting fear choke us unnecessarily. Obstacles that are placed in front of us are meant to be a chance at a new opportunity. Sometimes we simply can’t see it when it is too close to us. He asks us to laugh deep from within to find that inner joy. Ultimately, we are all powerless in this life to control everything that we face, and fear should not strangle us. Only God can help guide us through this life and create opportunities in situations that seem grim.
Don’t let fear grip you. Today, every time you encounter a fearful thought, stop, close your eyes, pray for guidance, and open your heart to the grand adventures that life has in store for you. I am working on shedding my fears by embracing optimism (not easy) and taking my own grand illusions of control away. The next two blogs will refine some of these concepts in greater detail and explain two very important ways to overcome our fears.