Mindfulness and Laughter: Gaining Clarity While
Giggling
Life is funny. Throughout the day, there are plenty of humorous
moments that we tend to
ignore. We get so caught up in being earnest that we miss opportunities
to gain clarity while giggling.
Sure, there are times when it is considered inappropriate to
laugh, but if we're honest, we'll see that if we're suppressing
a smile it's a sign that we're fully present.
Not only that, but these are times when we could most use a
little laughter to bring levity to an overly-serious situation.
The best business meetings--and funerals--I've ever attended
included plenty of bust-a-gut moments.
Years ago, during a two-week silent meditation retreat, I got
the giggles. Oh, I know, you're supposed to be *serious* about
meditating for five hours straight, but I couldn't help it.
It all started when I was roused from my peaceful posture by
a
certain "KLUNK!" from across the room. I opened my
eyes to see
that one of my retreat buddies had fallen asleep and landed
with
his head against the wall. Momentarily unnerved, he quickly
straightened up, closed his eyes and put on his best meditator's
face.
I, on the other hand, completely lost it.
I managed to stifle the first few giggles, but then they started
escaping in little bursts. I tried the ol' coughing technique,
hoping to disguise my snorts as expectoration, but I wasn't
fooling anyone.
Pretty soon, I saw (well, I did have my eyes open) others
looking my way. Nobody else was laughing. In fact, nobody else
was even smiling. Clearly, I was the only one who had allowed
myself to get caught up in that unexpected moment of hilarity.
I was chagrined, and then annoyed, and continued to watch my
response to this incident shift over the next few minutes.
Had it been funny? Of course. Were we supposed to be
concentrating fully on the moment? Absolutely. Anything else
would be attachment to past regrets or worries about the future.
Okay, so we were focusing on watching our thoughts, and this
little interruption was not part of what was going on in our
heads. But isn't ignoring what's happening around us the same
kind of thing that gets us into trouble back in the Real World?
We go about our lives, obsessing silently, moving mindlessly,
getting things done. We fail to notice the wonder and joy and
beauty all around us because we are in full scowl mode about
the
things in our heads.
Well, I'm all for taking time to laugh. Give me a giggling
guru
over a dour taskmaster every time. The greatest guides--in
business, education, and personal success--are those who
encourage us to invite hilarity into our lives whenever it
happens to appear.
Open your eyes to the silliness around you, and laugh out loud.
It's good for your heart in every way.
About the author: Visit Maya Talisman Frost at http://www.MassageYourMind.com
