Abandoned self

• • Laughter

I have a history of abandoning myself. Every time I didn’t stand up for myself or did something I didn’t want to do was me moving away from myself not towards myself.

Hearing it out loud

You can imagine how surprised i was when I was leading a laughter club session and I heard myself say, ‘abandon yourself and laugh.’

At the moment I realised I’d given myself permission to leave all my stress and go into childlike play.Childlike play is a gift that keeps on giving. Children turn in circles and throw their hands in air in free abandonment of thinking about anything else. That’s what laughter does. Our body tells our brain to activate all those yummy chemicals such as endorphins (painkillers), serotonin (happiness), dopamine (pleasure), oxytocin (love) and melatonin (sleep).

Turning back towards yourself

Finding nuggets of joy in my day and giving a hearty ha ha or relaxing into 30 seconds of unadulterated laughter is my new way of abandoning myself to pure play.

Come along to a laughter club or sit and smile for a bit then let out a little Hee Hee, Ha Ha, Ho Ho and breathe deep. It’s time to have a laugh.

When the pattern runs deeper

If putting yourself last is a familiar pattern, that is often where counselling begins. I also write about self, story and abandonment over at alexgrantham.com. Start with a free 20-minute call, confidential and no obligation.

Laughter yoga

• • Laughter, Mindfulness
Laughing for life

Finally! I’m a yoga teacher. I’m not athletic or flexible but I can laugh. Nearly six years ago I stopped drinking and smoking. I stopped overnight. Cold turkey and was convinced I could do it with no help at all! Turns out I was wrong.

The most amazing moment in my sobriety journey is when I was with friends and I laughed at a joke. I felt the laugh rumble from my belly and convulse my body. Fizzy feelings of fun felt through every cell. I thought, wow, this is what feeling my feelings can do.

What laughter yoga is

Laughter yoga is about breath and convincing our body we can laugh without finding anything funny. It’s the ole’ fake it till ya make it concept.

Laughter yoga in practice: laughing together as a group

Why deliberate laughter works

With the pandemic making life become so uncertain with the ongoing ongoing-ness of it all, breathing has become something we know we can focus on and enjoy.

Laughter yoga explores breath, laughter and connection so we can help our nervous system rest and calm our brain. All this helps our immune system.

Laughing together

Time to take our mask off and have a laugh together. Contact me today to join the online laughter club. ha ha. Hee hee. Ho ho.

I also run this as a group session for workplaces, teams and community groups. You can read more on the Laughter for Resilience page. Get in touch to book a session for your group.