Nine Laughing Steps to Better Health!

So often we resort to elaborate treatments like pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy in dealing with imbalances of mind-brain-body and forget about the fundamentals, many of which have been practiced for time immemorial, albeit in a different guise. The most important bedtime story anybody can tell you is that your mind-brain-body synergy is more than capable of correcting imbalances caused by anxiety, poor sleep, and maladaptive behaviors–one might call it an in-built “wisdom.” This synergy knows how homeostatic balance might be regained, if only you conjure the circumstances for the requisite automatisms to take their course. Improvement of mental and physical health, then, is contingent on our ability to shake up our systems in the right way. We do this by adhering to the following prescriptions:

1. Sleep when tired or exhausted. Sleep alters our brain-mind state from ergotropic to trophotropic, or from a state of energy expenditure to one of energy conservation. The voluntary manipulation allows the aminergic system [serotonin and norepinephrine] responsible for acute self-awareness and foreground [external] processing of sensory stimuli in the waking state to renew itself and keep the functionality of somatic systems (i.e., neuroendocrine, immune) optimal. Experimental trials with animals in laboratory settings have shown beyond doubt that chemical replenishment through sleep is intimately linked with immunity and defense against disease. By consistently satisfying this denomination of your biorhythm, you will reduce the amount of time spent at your local GP along with the amount of money squandered at the neighboring pharmacy.
2. Engage in physical and mental activities of interest when you are feeling spirited and alert. Be of significant value and use to others, either by joining non-profit boards, doing community work, working in a vegetable garden, or helping a friend move apartments; avoid indolence and inertia at all costs.
3. Exercise. Engaging in some vigorous activity like running, sprinting, dancing, bike riding, swimming, boxing, kickboxing, and other preferred sports is good for cardiovascular health, energy levels, lowering blood pressure, and amplifying muscle strength and bone density. There is an autonomous release of feel-good molecules called endorphins when you exercise, reducing your sensitivity to pain. Exercise also promotes sleep and facilitates the establishment of a very positive self-image.
4. Practice relaxation techniques that hinder and quash psychological stress like progressive muscle relaxation, traditional meditation, or self-hypnosis. Massage, a thirty-minute stroll in a park, meadow, or mountain, and any other slow-paced activity which grounds the self in present-moment awareness is also advantageous. Breathe deeply during the activities to take in the oxygen-rich air, the sustenance of life.
5. Eat breakfast first thing in the morning to kick-start your metabolism. Try to eat small portions every 2-3 hours; graze on your food. Savor and be grateful for your meals.
6. Avoid “in excess” particularly when it comes to eating, alcohol consumption, and exercising as these will disturb your natural sleep patterns.
7. Sex is a rather pleasurable act and also releases endorphins; do it sometime!
8. Don’t forget about that natural mood-booster and stress-reliever called laughter; it really is the best medicine, and we don’t partake nearly as much as what we should. Laughing endears us to our fellow brethren, and those who do it authentically and regularly will probably acquire a larger gamut of friends than those who abstain from practice.
9. Remember to practice mindfulness. Ground yourself in the present by focusing on foreground mental processes–that is, the sights, smells, sounds, tastes, and tactile sensations offered by your sensory modalities–and resist bribes offered by background mental processes like fantasy, imagination, and contemplation of the past or future. Studies have shown that optimal functioning of one’s neurons, the building blocks of the nervous system, is associated with an acute self-awareness steeped in the present moment—remain focused, present, and authentically “there” in your interactions with other people. Your mind-brain-body will thank you for it.