Laughing At or Laughing With

Many years ago I learned through training in Laughter Yoga about how little/infrequently adults laugh. It’s true. Especially adults. Most hold back laughter and many do not even think about laughing unless some joke/experience is “worthy” of such energy.

For many, many years, I have loved laughing. Only through learning and practicing Laughter Yoga, do I do this now, even Consciously. Many do not find it “easy” to laugh consciously. Yet real or “fake” laughter is truly healing as I have learned (first through Laughter Yoga and research) and also from years of learning this Truth through mostly-unconscious (and sometimes Conscious) action. I now laugh more Consciously – but not self-consciously (lol!). Today, I am drawn to the energetics of different “reasons” for laughter which this mind felt was/is blog-worthy, so I thought I’d reflect here about two times that many of us are already aware of. Laughing “at” something/someone or laughing “with” something/someone.

LAUGHING AT

Most of us have laughed at something… a person’s words or actions (from a stand-up comic, to a friend, to ourselves). We laugh at something that resonates with us. Something that our mind has had previous experience learning or noticing – many times we will think “what a clever way to say/do that!” This, I am certain, was the foundation of “the show about nothing” known by most as Seinfeld. And that show had plenty to laugh “at” and “with” but there are nuances of differences in these types of laughable moments as I’d like to share in this post.

Some people laugh with an edge of sarcasm or cruelty towards (“at”) others. Some “laugh” at another’s suffering, whether it’s the gut-wrenching laughter or a wry smile. Each of these comes from an ego-centred space. Bullies may laugh like this. And some very quiet and reserved, seemingly mild-mannered individuals do this in the “privacy” of their own minds or shared with close friends only. This is not the healing laughter that is achieved by authentic laughing. Now, someone may “authentically” feel it is humorous to see another struggling in some way – for various reasons. Laughing in such moments does not heal anyone deeply. Since the hurt created in another through such laughter, only hurts ourselves more. The energy of the intention does pass through our own minds and bodies first. And this can create much suffering for those that do this. Sometimes (most times?) not immediately. But I strongly believe in karma. And I have seen bullies of all sorts suffer. And bullies can heal themselves and others too, with mindful Awareness about laughing.

And no one needs to be a bully to begin healing with laughter!! So read on.

LAUGHING WITH

Most of us have also laughed with someone. It could be a giggling fit about nothing in particular, or about everything in general. Or it could be about anything that resonates with us, and brings about a compassionate and empathic understanding of another’s experience – that we could imagine ourselves going through (or we already have). In these experiences we can also be laughing at ourselves. But it’s not the embarrassed laughing that some feel like doing from possibly being judged by others. It’s a genuine heartfelt laugh about the silliness in ourselves or others, or about life experiences that happen sometimes to only one; or those that happen to many more.

We know that either of these types of laughs can occur from just thoughts of something that we find funny. If we are mindfully-attentive to the Truth of why we are laughing, we can see our honest thoughts behind the laugh. Sometimes people laugh to fit in; sometimes to cover embarrassment, sometimes to ridicule, sometimes because of fun memories and experiences, and sometimes to lift another’s spirits through not-easy times. Remember that true healing from laughter happens when each person effected by the energetic waves that radiate from the intention behind the laughter is touched KINDLY and COMPASSIONATELY. Laughing for no reason has a wonderful unconsciously-healing effect. Laughing with a Consciously-Loving/Supportive intention – THAT is a Consciously Healing energy to experience and to share. Such Laughter truly heals. Most of all, heals the person who is laughing Lovingly.

Happy Healing Everyone.

May we consciously laugh to heal ourselves and the world… Lovingly.

Try to find reasons to smile/laugh each day.

Smiling and Laughing with Conscious Intention and Awareness,

Hanifa