Month: September 2015 Page 1 of 2

One of the sayings that I remember from my childhood is “laughter is the best medicine.”

I was therefore interested recently to read a story about its origins. I had assumed that it was a biblical quote but it does not appear in the bible. However, it probably originates from a quote in Proverbs:

“A joyful heart is good medicine but a broken spirit dries up the bones.”

Whilst researching the benefits of laughter I came across an interesting story about Norman Cousins who was an American political journalist, author, professor and world peace advocate who died in 1990 aged 75.

Remarkably, Cousins was diagnosed in 1964 as having a serious disease and was told that his chances for survival were one in five hundred and that he had just months to live.

But Cousins will to live was strong, so he decided to assume most of the responsibility for his own healing.

Having been told that he had little chance of surviving, he developed a recovery programme. It included big doses of Vitamin C, along with a positive attitude and laughter induced by Marx Brothers films and anything else that he could get his hands on to make him laugh.

Cousins developed a systematic programme for getting daily doses of hearty laughter.

He said “I made the joyous discovery that ten minutes of genuine belly laughter had an anaesthetic effect and would give me at least two hours of pain-free sleep.” It is remarkable that he was able to laugh having been told he had an irreversible disease and didn’t have long to live.

He wrote of his healing experiences in “Anatomy of an illness.” Medical tests done since then have established that there is a physiological basis for the theory that laughter is good medicine.

After his remarkable recovery, Cousins continued to study the effects of positive emotions on the human system. Eventually, he joined the medical faculty at the UCLA Medical School, a rare appointment for a person without a medical degree.

Cousins were one of the pioneers in linking laughter to healing. Since his initial explorations, his research has been duplicated by many both in and out of the medical profession. These include Dr Bernie Siegel and Dr Patch Adams. Both have written extensively about the power of humour and hope in the healing process.

A film called Patch Adams about Dr Adams work is worth watching. It is heart-warming, funny and based on scientific evidence.

During my research, I came across some information from the Mayo Clinic about the short term and long benefits of laughter, which I have set out below:-

Short-term benefits – Laughter can:

• Stimulate many organs as it enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles and increases the endorphins that are released by your brain.
• Activate and relieve your stress response and lead to a good relaxed feeling.
• Soothe tension, stimulate circulation and aid muscle relaxation, both of which help reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress.

Long-term benefits – Laughter may:

• Relieve pain by causing the body to produce its own natural painkillers. Laughter may also break the pain-spasm cycle common to some muscle disorders. It can also improve your immune system as positive thoughts release neuropeptides which help fight stress and illness.
• Increase personal satisfaction. Laughter can also make it easier to cope with difficult situations. It also helps you connect with other people.
• Improve your mood, it can reduce depression and anxiety and increase happiness.

This week why not take a few moments to think about if you need to introduce a little more laughter into your life.

This week’s quotation:

“A day without laughter is a day wasted.” Charlie Chaplin

To arrange a free no obligation consultation, please contact Stephen Pauley via the contact form or by e mail: Stephen@befirstclass.co.uk

This week’s blog features a story that I read recently and hopefully will provide a great lesson/moral for us all.

I have always enjoyed buying and listening to music and over the years I have created an eclectic music collection.

My passion started 40 years ago with vinyl records, progressed to CDs and now downloads.

I can’t begin to estimate how much pleasure and inspiration music has brought me over the years. It may not have been possible had it not have been for the efforts or invention of someone whose teacher predicted that he would never amount to much because he was a daydreamer!

The person concerned was Thomas Edison who grew up to be one of the most prolific inventors of all time and was voted man of the millennium by life magazine in 1997. He had 1093 patents registered in his name in the USA alone. He is probably most renowned for his electric light bulb invention.

Historians suggest that his best invention was the phonograph (also known as the gramophone).

Without Edison we would not have been able to listen to The Beatles, U2, Taylor Swift or Ed Sheeran.

What makes the particular device so extraordinary was not the technological breakthrough or what it would come to mean to the world but that it had been invented by a man who was profoundly deaf!

Edison developed the phonograph by biting on the sounding horn and listening through the resulting vibrations in his jaw bone. In fact, he claimed that his impaired hearing was actually an advantage because by using his biting technique, he could pick up sound qualities that were virtually undetectable to the human ear.

The fact that he couldn’t hear and therefore had to devise his biting method ultimately enabled him to refine and improve the quality of the recordings far beyond that which could have been achieved through normal hearing. Seen in this light, the resulting achievement verges on the miraculous.

The moral of the story/ lesson for us all:

Beyond the invention itself, Edison has demonstrated, through his work, a truth that can inspire us all. That is that sometimes our biggest limitations are our greatest assets.

This week why not take a moment to reflect and consider if there is an asset or strength that you could utilise more.

Also think about the teams you are involved with professionally and personally. What action steps could be taken for the team to use more of it’s potential?

This week’s quotation:

“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” Thomas A. Edison.

To arrange a free no obligation consultation, please contact Stephen Pauley via the contact form or by e mail: Stephen@befirstclass.co.uk

Dr Wayne Dyer, one of the leading voices in personal development died recently aged 75.

He was an accomplished motivational speaker, author and was referred to by some as the “father of motivation.” He had a very positive impact on many people.

He wrote over 40 books including 20 New York Times bestsellers.

His first book, Your Erroneous Zones (1976), is one of the best-selling books of all time, with an estimated 35 million copies sold to date. His teachings included the importance of mindfulness and meditation for success and happiness.

His writing was deep, inspiring and rich in wisdom. Many of the tributes that I have read about him described him as kind, gentle, generous and someone who did not forget his roots (he started life in an orphanage).

By his own admission he was not perfect, like all of us he was human and made mistakes. He was a lifelong learner and used his gifts including his extraordinary communication skills to share knowledge to inspire and uplift others.

Wayne Dyer leaves a very positive legacy and I have shared below some of his thoughts and quotes that I hope will help you to live your best life:-

The importance of gratitude and appreciation

“Upon awakening, let the words “thank you” flow from your lips, for this will remind you to begin your day with gratitude and compassion.”

You are responsible for your results in life

“You must become the producer, director and actor in the unfolding story of your life.”

Change is an inside job

“The more you see yourself as what you’d like to become, and act as if what you want is already there, the more you’ll activate those dormant forces that will collaborate to transform your dream into your reality.”

Spread kindness

“When you are able to shift your inner awareness to how you can serve others and when you make this the central focus of your life, you will then be in a position to know true miracles in your progress toward prosperity.”

Accept and learn from all life experiences

“Each experience in your life was absolutely necessary in order to have gotten you to the next place, and the next place, up to this very moment.”

Develop a “do it now” philosophy to life

“You’ll seldom experience regret for anything that you’ve done. It is what you haven’t done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear. Do it! Develop an appreciation for the present moment. Seize every second of your life and savour it.”

Change your thinking and you change your results

“What we think determines what happens to us, so if we want to change our lives, we need to stretch our minds.”

Pursue your goals – don’t let fear stop you

“There’s no scarcity of opportunity to make a living at what you love. There is only a scarcity of resolve to make it happen.”

Life is busy and we do not always get chance to reflect and express our thanks and appreciation. This week, why not take a few moments to think about what you really appreciate and are grateful for in your life.

This week’s quotation:

“Don’t die with your music still inside you. Listen to your intuitive inner voice and find what passion stirs your soul.” Dr Wayne Dyer.

To arrange a free no obligation consultation, please contact Stephen Pauley via the contact form or by e mail: Stephen@befirstclass.co.uk