Stressed out? Try Laughter, Smile, Relax a Little

Toddlers laugh 400 times a day while adults laugh only 15 times a day. It appears that we took those haunting words, "Wipe that smile off your face, do you want people to think you are stupid?" or "You are not being serious," to heart.

We enter the world with an inborn ability to laugh, smile, play, have fun and and make light of life. We spend most of our adulthood being humor impaired. Have you experienced watching a comedian or being caught up in situation with friend where you laughing so hard it hurt? Then, afterwards, felt so good! Just remembering the event, brings a smile back to your face.

The world definitely will "never see you sweat" if you are smiling.Try this...smile periodically while walking down the street, you will be amazed at the number of people who will smile back.

As a wise Rabbit once said, "Everybodyís got a laughin' place. "Fine," you say, "Good idea". But, "How do I find humor when there are projects dueat work, the kids are in the Thanksgiving play at church and have a party at school and my mother-in-law wants me to come over and help make pies for family Thanksgiving get together---all today!"

Ways to Use Humor to De-Stress

1. Take moment and take deep breathe and think about something funny you have experienced.Go ahead---laugh out loud!

2. Need outside stimulus? Buy one of those tickle me toys, when you squeeze the stuffed animal it giggles and shakes all over. Go ahead and laugh, its contagious!

3. Since self-humor can never get you in a situation where someone accuses you of making fun of them, think about how your stressful day must look to the outside world,As you were running around getting the kids ready, search for the car keys, running into the store changing lanes at the grocery store check out three three times to find the fastest one, then sprinting through the parking lot. Would your day make a great cartoon?

4. Tell a funny story even if it is the same one you have told many times before, getting others to laugh will get you to laugh too.