Bring on the Belly Laugh

There is nothing better than being so caught up in the moment that laughter makes you forget about absolutely everything. I’m not talking about a polite chuckle, I’m talking about a full-on, ugly belly laugh…the kind where your stomach hurts, your eyes water, and a snort may even sneak out. Recently, I had a few days where there was more laughter than usual, and I’d almost forgotten how physically good it feels.

I’m sure there’s a study out there somewhere that proves this phenomenon. But you don’t need a PhD to know that laughter is good for the mind, body, and soul. If you can’t remember the last time you had a belly laugh, why not? Are you taking yourself too seriously? Are you missing those perfectly silly moments that sneak up out of nowhere?

Life is serious enough. Pressures are high. And when we don’t make space for laughter, it hurts. It shuts us off and shuts us down. For years, I’ve written about leadership, often I mix laughter with leadership. It’s incredibly important to have fun at work. We can absolutely take our work seriously without taking ourselves too seriously. Hey, I think I’m onto something here. Not a groundbreaking discovery, but a great reminder positivity and laughter are powerful, healing forces.

Recently I went on a girl’s trip with some relatives. We laughed so hard we cried. About what? Nothing specific, everything nonsensical. Just silly, ridiculous fun. Our cackles are eerily similar (we are related, after all) loud, contagious, and impossible to ignore. The second one of us started laughing, the rest of us were shook. It reminded me how infectious laughter is. A positive attitude works the same way.

Of course, negativity is contagious too, but in all the wrong ways. Choosing where you spend your energy is up to you. Who you surround yourself with, how you approach tough situations, the outlook in life you carry are all choices. If you’re letting your enjoyment of life be silenced by other people’s negativity, please reconsider.

Too often, we let opinions and pressures weigh us down until we forget how to just be happy. Making time for laughter isn’t supposed to be a chore. It should be natural, effortless, and joyful. If you can’t remember the last time you really laughed, it’s time to ask yourself why.

This is a simple but necessary reminder. Stay open, notice what’s funny, and share it with others. A good joke can go a long way. One passed down for generations is even better. Be the one who tells the story, nails the punchline, or talks for no reason in a ridiculous voice. If it makes you laugh, chances are it will make someone else laugh too! They might just need you to remind them that it’s absolutely, unapologetically, okay to laugh and laugh loud!