Ditch the drama and laugh!

Playful card from the Re-ignite your Elegant Rebel® Oracle Card Deck

Playful is our theme card this week over in our Elegant Rebel® Oracle Card private group. Joining this group is an exclusive perk of owning a deck of Re-ignite your Elegant Rebel® Oracle Cards and when I pulled the weekly card, I thought it was a wee bit odd considering all the turbulence and drama surrounding all of us at the moment. But as I sat with the card its appearance became so clear I giggled!

The essence of laughter

In the hustle and bustle of our respective lives, it's easy to get caught up in the drama that surrounds us. Whether it's work-related stress, personal stuff, or being caught up in the unhelpful energy of constant opinion and the ‘let’s fix this’, drama seems to be an unavoidable part of our daily lives. But what if we consciously choose to let go of the drama and invite more playfulness into our lives? What if we hung upside down and consciously brought more laughter into our daily lives?

Laughter isn't just a spontaneous reaction to something funny—it's a complex physiological process. When we laugh, our brain releases a cocktail of feel-good chemicals like endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin. These neurotransmitters are nature’s way of giving us a mood boost. According to the Mayo Clinic, laughter can stimulate many organs, enhance our intake of oxygen-rich air, and increase the release of endorphins.

Have you ever found yourself chuckling at a silly meme or laughing out loud at a friend's joke, only to feel a wave of calm wash over you? Well, you're not alone! I have so many ‘moments’ when my soul nudges me with a good belly laugh, but this week it has reminded me of the inexplicable link between anxiety and laughter.

How will I know when to laugh?

Many of us Elegant Rebels are currently facing some interesting weather events. Where I live, Tropical Cyclone (TC) Alfred is meandering down the Southeast Queensland coastline. There hasn’t been a cyclone in our area for about 50 years.

As a wee munchkin, my family lived in Far North Queensland for a few years. During this time, we witnessed a few possible cyclones and one Christmas morning we experienced a Category 5 storm. Our house was the only house standing in the street after that particular cyclone. It was brutal. Since that storm, anytime the wind picks up and makes a specific howling noise, I panic. Not always consciously and at times the anxiety creeps up rather unexpectedly and floors me.

Earlier this week the anxiety was riding high. The thought of the cyclone turning right and aiming straight at my suburb sent me into a wee bit of a meltdown. I was messaging a mate at the time, and I off-handedly mentioned the panic was setting in. He stopped what he was doing and called me. This was a circuit breaking call. Because what he did was started referring to TC Alfred as an ‘old codger’, driving slowly on the highway, and kept missing the correct turn offs, so we just need to wait until he worked out how to turn right off the highway and he may get exhausted trying to cross the highway at the islands etc etc. This is an overview of our chat!

We were both in fits of laughter conjuring up this hilarious story. But what this call did was bring laughter into my world. And laughter brings peace and harmony. Since that call, my mate now randomly sends me updates of what TC Alfie may or may not be doing. For example, when Alfie stalled off the coast a couple of days ago, I received a message about how Alfie had changed to using a walker and one of the wheels had fallen off, so he was listing to the right trying to remember what he was meant to be doing. I do surround myself with incredibly creative folks and I am truly grateful I have this ability! And until TC Alfie works out what he’s doing, anytime I sense the anxiety escalating, I hear the playful Mr Magoo style character voice and begin to giggle, and calmness returns.

The science-nerdy bit

Drama often brings with it a heightened sense of stress and anxiety. When we focus on the unhelpful and unhealthful aspects of situations, our minds and bodies respond with increased tension and worry. By choosing to let go of the drama and embrace a playful attitude and laughing, we can reduce our stress levels significantly.

As a Happiness Coach, I know when you laugh, your stress response is mitigated. The act of laughing can soothe tension by relaxing your muscles, and this effect can last up to 45 minutes. A study published in the Journal of Neuroscience found that laughter triggers the release of neuropeptides, which help combat stress. Playfulness and laughter also encourages us to see the lighter side of life, helping us to relax and enjoy the present moment.

Laughter is like a secret weapon and some of the other benefits include:

1. Improves mood: Laughter can lift your spirits by releasing endorphins and other mood-enhancing chemicals, promoting a sense of well-being and happiness.

2. Enhances resilience: Life is full of challenges, but laughter can provide a processing mechanism. People who use humour to navigate tough situations often find it easier to bounce back from adversity. N.B. laughter as a processing method not as deflection.

3. Strengthens immune system: Laughter boosts your immune system by increasing the production of antibodies and activating immune cells, helping to fend off illness.

4. Encourages relaxation: Laughing can relax the whole body, relieving physical tension and stress, which can last for up to 45 minutes after a good laugh.

5. Distracts from pain: It can serve as a natural painkiller by distracting you from physical or emotional discomfort, reducing your perception of pain.

6. Improves cognitive function: Engaging in humour and laughter can stimulate both sides of the brain, enhancing creativity and problem-solving skills.

Now you may be thinking how do I bring more playfulness and laughter into my world? I need to be serious, and I don’t have time for laughing. My reply would definitely start with “Do you. Do your really?”. Here’s the thing. You can still be serious and focused and laugh along the way. Like with everything it is about balance. I personally am atrocious at being serious for too long, but I can do it when my soul is nudging me to, or I am reading the room so to speak. I don’t always get it right, but I can do it and encourage everyone to give it a whirl!

Here are some simple ideas to get you started with 'ditching the drama', bringing more laughter into your world and embracing a more playful approach to life.

1. Find humour in everyday situations and spend time with friends and family members who have a great sense of humour. Laughter is contagious, and being around jovial people can boost your own mood.

2. Try laughter yoga sessions. It may feel silly at first, but it’s an excellent way to experience the benefits of laughter in a structured setting.

3. Learn to laugh with yourself. Embrace your quirks and mishaps with a sense of humour – not self-admonishing though. Finding the funny side of things can turn a bad day around.

4. Jot down funny moments from your day or amusing things you hear and see in your journal. Reflecting on these notes can bring laughter back into your life when you need it most.

5. Engage in activities that spark your creativity and bring out your inner child. Whether it's painting, dancing, or playing a sport, find what makes you feel joyful and do it regularly.

6. Allow yourself to be open to unexpected adventures, adding an element of surprise and fun to your life.

7. Break out of your comfort zone and explore new hobbies, activities, or places, bringing a sense of excitement and novelty to your routine.

8. Embrace the idea that it's okay to make mistakes and that life doesn't have to be perfect. Allow yourself to be imperfect and enjoy your adventure.

9. Don’t be afraid to share a joke or funny story during conversations. It can break the ice and create a positive vibe.

10. Play with pets. Animals have a natural way of making us laugh with their antics.

For me it is a choice to ditch the drama and embrace a playful approach to life. It’s how we can enhance our well-being and create a more joyful existence. So, the next time you feel anxiety creeping in, remember that a hearty laugh might just be the best thing for you. Surround yourself with humour, watch a funny movie, or call up your version of my Mr Magoo friend who always knows how to make you giggle.

Life is too short to be taken too seriously. Let’s play, laugh, and enjoy the adventure! Until next time, unmask your magic, be the youest you, you can be, keep smiling and most definitely keep laughing!

International Best Selling & Indie Reader Approved Author, Soulful Intuitive Mentor and founder of Elegant Rebel, Peta-Ann inspires and supports women to unmask their magic and love their youness by following their inner voice instead of societal norms. P-A is late verified neurodivergent and a breast cancer thriver, choosing to stay flat almost a decade ago. She’s also a Holistic Counsellor, Happiness Coach, Colour Therapist, Reiki Master, and Soul Coaching® Oracle Reader.