Choose to laugh – it’s good for you | Sebastian Gendry | TEDxManhattanBeach

I invite you to stand up we’re going to

I invite you to stand up we’re going to do two things the first one is an

do two things the first one is an

do two things the first one is an assessment of how you currently feel so

assessment of how you currently feel so

assessment of how you currently feel so please close your eyes take a deep

please close your eyes take a deep

please close your eyes take a deep breath and such a self assess yourself

breath and such a self assess yourself

breath and such a self assess yourself that’s you here now on a scale from one

that’s you here now on a scale from one

that’s you here now on a scale from one to ten where one is I feel very very bad

to ten where one is I feel very very bad

to ten where one is I feel very very bad and ten is I feel very very good right

and ten is I feel very very good right

and ten is I feel very very good right now make a mental note of your result we

now make a mental note of your result we

now make a mental note of your result we will come back to it in a few minutes

will come back to it in a few minutes

will come back to it in a few minutes and the second activity is equally

and the second activity is equally

and the second activity is equally simple I invite you to imagine that you

simple I invite you to imagine that you

simple I invite you to imagine that you are an actor or this is an audition and

are an actor or this is an audition and

are an actor or this is an audition and the role you are applying for is

the role you are applying for is

the role you are applying for is possibly the easiest of your entire

possibly the easiest of your entire

possibly the easiest of your entire acting career all you have to do is

acting career all you have to do is

acting career all you have to do is pretend that you are a very happy

pretend that you are a very happy

pretend that you are a very happy audience member and give a rousing athu

audience member and give a rousing athu

audience member and give a rousing athu sziasztok standing ovation to someone on

sziasztok standing ovation to someone on

sziasztok standing ovation to someone on stage which right now happens to be me

stage which right now happens to be me

stage which right now happens to be me you may want to stomp with your feet

you may want to stomp with your feet

you may want to stomp with your feet clap with your hands make big loud

clap with your hands make big loud

clap with your hands make big loud noises ready

please please have a seat Wow there’s a

please please have a seat Wow there’s a new frontier in wellness and it’s a

new frontier in wellness and it’s a

new frontier in wellness and it’s a space where people understand that

space where people understand that

space where people understand that emotional health is as important as

emotional health is as important as

emotional health is as important as physical health and that we can have a

physical health and that we can have a

physical health and that we can have a major impact on how we feel by choosing

major impact on how we feel by choosing

major impact on how we feel by choosing to engage through the simple motions of

to engage through the simple motions of

to engage through the simple motions of feeling of wellness of well-being the

feeling of wellness of well-being the

feeling of wellness of well-being the sounds the movement the behaviors it’s

sounds the movement the behaviors it’s

sounds the movement the behaviors it’s the subject I’m very passionate about

the subject I’m very passionate about

the subject I’m very passionate about because I’ve been witnessing over and

because I’ve been witnessing over and

because I’ve been witnessing over and over the past decade how healing

over the past decade how healing

over the past decade how healing positive emotions can significantly

positive emotions can significantly

positive emotions can significantly improve people’s lives in so many on so

improve people’s lives in so many on so

improve people’s lives in so many on so many different levels for me it all

many different levels for me it all

many different levels for me it all started as a crisis in my early 30s at

started as a crisis in my early 30s at

started as a crisis in my early 30s at that the business I was running at that

that the business I was running at that

that the business I was running at that time was incredibly successful my work

time was incredibly successful my work

time was incredibly successful my work schedule was incredibly insane and my

schedule was incredibly insane and my

schedule was incredibly insane and my personal life was incredibly empty I was

personal life was incredibly empty I was

personal life was incredibly empty I was locked in a belief system that said that

locked in a belief system that said that

locked in a belief system that said that I had to be rich to be happy and that

I had to be rich to be happy and that

I had to be rich to be happy and that making money it was far more important

making money it was far more important

making money it was far more important than having fun or feeling good and I

than having fun or feeling good and I

than having fun or feeling good and I paid the price for that to cut a long

paid the price for that to cut a long

paid the price for that to cut a long story short I decided consciously after

story short I decided consciously after

story short I decided consciously after my second stress-related burnout but I

my second stress-related burnout but I

my second stress-related burnout but I wouldn’t die the richest man in my

wouldn’t die the richest man in my

wouldn’t die the richest man in my cemetery and I walked away from it all

cemetery and I walked away from it all

cemetery and I walked away from it all one of the modalities I came across on

one of the modalities I came across on

one of the modalities I came across on my healing journey was the emerging

my healing journey was the emerging

my healing journey was the emerging world of laughter therapy I fell in love

world of laughter therapy I fell in love

world of laughter therapy I fell in love with it I’m now known as the laughter

with it I’m now known as the laughter

with it I’m now known as the laughter wellness guy it’s been my full-time job

wellness guy it’s been my full-time job

wellness guy it’s been my full-time job for the past 14 years and today I would

for the past 14 years and today I would

for the past 14 years and today I would like to share with you the essence of

like to share with you the essence of

like to share with you the essence of what it’s all about

what it’s all about

what it’s all about so let’s start with warming up our

so let’s start with warming up our

so let’s start with warming up our laughter muscles put your hand on your

laughter muscles put your hand on your

laughter muscles put your hand on your thighs we’re going to share an extended

thighs we’re going to share an extended

thighs we’re going to share an extended our sound as we lift our arms up and

our sound as we lift our arms up and

our sound as we lift our arms up and then finish with a laughter for about 10

then finish with a laughter for about 10

then finish with a laughter for about 10 seconds when we reach the top ready do

seconds when we reach the top ready do

seconds when we reach the top ready do what I do say what I say

actually let’s do it let’s repeat this

actually let’s do it let’s repeat this with the old sound one last time this

with the old sound one last time this

with the old sound one last time this time with the 8 sound yeah thank you

time with the 8 sound yeah thank you

time with the 8 sound yeah thank you thank you I have much respect for my

thank you I have much respect for my

thank you I have much respect for my Hema colleagues and I wish I was funny

Hema colleagues and I wish I was funny

Hema colleagues and I wish I was funny but unfortunately this is not one of my

but unfortunately this is not one of my

but unfortunately this is not one of my skill set what I have found instead is

skill set what I have found instead is

skill set what I have found instead is that choosing to laugh was a far easier

that choosing to laugh was a far easier

that choosing to laugh was a far easier sustainable reliable and long-term

sustainable reliable and long-term

sustainable reliable and long-term approach to unlocking the many healing

approach to unlocking the many healing

approach to unlocking the many healing benefits that laughter has to offer

benefits that laughter has to offer

benefits that laughter has to offer anybody can do it anytime anywhere it

anybody can do it anytime anywhere it

anybody can do it anytime anywhere it works across people’s lifespan and with

works across people’s lifespan and with

works across people’s lifespan and with minor modification regardless of what

minor modification regardless of what

minor modification regardless of what their cognitive skills what their

their cognitive skills what their

their cognitive skills what their cognitive skills are but here I need to

cognitive skills are but here I need to

cognitive skills are but here I need to make something very important clear is

make something very important clear is

make something very important clear is that in life in general and in the world

that in life in general and in the world

that in life in general and in the world of energy medicine medicine in

of energy medicine medicine in

of energy medicine medicine in particular it is never what you do

particular it is never what you do

particular it is never what you do that’s important but what’s behind this

that’s important but what’s behind this

that’s important but what’s behind this is not an invitation to put a happy mask

is not an invitation to put a happy mask

is not an invitation to put a happy mask on and fake or force your smile that’s a

on and fake or force your smile that’s a

on and fake or force your smile that’s a bad plan because it doesn’t work and in

bad plan because it doesn’t work and in

bad plan because it doesn’t work and in the long run its disempowering it’s very

the long run its disempowering it’s very

the long run its disempowering it’s very very different from embracing completely

very different from embracing completely

very different from embracing completely how you currently feel at any given

how you currently feel at any given

how you currently feel at any given point in time and even if when you feel

point in time and even if when you feel

point in time and even if when you feel bad choosing or allowing to express the

bad choosing or allowing to express the

bad choosing or allowing to express the best of who you are or want to be the

best of who you are or want to be the

best of who you are or want to be the beauty of this particular approach is

beauty of this particular approach is

beauty of this particular approach is that you don’t have to be happy no feel

that you don’t have to be happy no feel

that you don’t have to be happy no feel good to practice and significantly

good to practice and significantly

good to practice and significantly benefit from my standpoint choosing to

benefit from my standpoint choosing to

benefit from my standpoint choosing to laugh really is about choosing to live

laugh really is about choosing to live

laugh really is about choosing to live put your hands on your thighs we’re

put your hands on your thighs we’re

put your hands on your thighs we’re gonna take a deep breath as we lift our

gonna take a deep breath as we lift our

gonna take a deep breath as we lift our hands up and make a big resounding yes

hands up and make a big resounding yes

hands up and make a big resounding yes as we exhale

as we exhale

as we exhale and again one last time it says the

and again one last time it says the

and again one last time it says the except this time same thing except when

except this time same thing except when

except this time same thing except when you make your yes please

you make your yes please

you make your yes please make eye contact with someone near you

make eye contact with someone near you

make eye contact with someone near you ready yes thank you everybody knows that

ready yes thank you everybody knows that

ready yes thank you everybody knows that laughing feels good but that’s just the

laughing feels good but that’s just the

laughing feels good but that’s just the tip of the iceberg of what we stand from

tip of the iceberg of what we stand from

tip of the iceberg of what we stand from benefit from such a simple practice the

benefit from such a simple practice the

benefit from such a simple practice the knowledge that laughter is good medicine

knowledge that laughter is good medicine

knowledge that laughter is good medicine has been taught of conventional wisdom

has been taught of conventional wisdom

has been taught of conventional wisdom for at least 3,000 years and here I’m

for at least 3,000 years and here I’m

for at least 3,000 years and here I’m referring in particular to proverbs

referring in particular to proverbs

referring in particular to proverbs 17:22 that says a merry heart does good

17:22 that says a merry heart does good

17:22 that says a merry heart does good like a medicine but a broken spirit

like a medicine but a broken spirit

like a medicine but a broken spirit dries the bones let me translate in this

dries the bones let me translate in this

dries the bones let me translate in this in 21st century language when we feel

in 21st century language when we feel

in 21st century language when we feel good we naturally tend to think good see

good we naturally tend to think good see

good we naturally tend to think good see good speak good and do good it’s a

good speak good and do good it’s a

good speak good and do good it’s a beautiful space to be in a space of

beautiful space to be in a space of

beautiful space to be in a space of expansion where everything flows better

expansion where everything flows better

expansion where everything flows better and works better and that both outside

and works better and that both outside

and works better and that both outside as much as inside and the opposite of

as much as inside and the opposite of

as much as inside and the opposite of course also applies when we feel bad so

course also applies when we feel bad so

course also applies when we feel bad so what can we do when we feel bad right

what can we do when we feel bad right

what can we do when we feel bad right sometimes all we need to do is shake

sometimes all we need to do is shake

sometimes all we need to do is shake things up so please do what I do and say

things up so please do what I do and say

things up so please do what I do and say what I say

now I know some of you may be thinking

now I know some of you may be thinking this is a little odd so allow me to give

this is a little odd so allow me to give

this is a little odd so allow me to give you a different perspective on what we

you a different perspective on what we

you a different perspective on what we are really doing here so please put one

are really doing here so please put one

are really doing here so please put one hand on your eye the closer the better

hand on your eye the closer the better

hand on your eye the closer the better so cover your eyes with one hand what do

so cover your eyes with one hand what do

so cover your eyes with one hand what do you see the answer of course is not much

you see the answer of course is not much

you see the answer of course is not much so now please put your hand about two

so now please put your hand about two

so now please put your hand about two feet away look again

feet away look again

feet away look again and now what do you see some people will

and now what do you see some people will

and now what do you see some people will still only see fingers for quite a while

still only see fingers for quite a while

still only see fingers for quite a while but if you look long enough you’ll

but if you look long enough you’ll

but if you look long enough you’ll notice that you can see a lot more

notice that you can see a lot more

notice that you can see a lot more actually you can see we can see

actually you can see we can see

actually you can see we can see everything please put your hand down the

everything please put your hand down the

everything please put your hand down the hand in this activity is symbolic for

hand in this activity is symbolic for

hand in this activity is symbolic for the challenges we face in life chopping

the challenges we face in life chopping

the challenges we face in life chopping our hand off every time it blocks our

our hand off every time it blocks our

our hand off every time it blocks our view is not a solution and that’s

view is not a solution and that’s

view is not a solution and that’s evidence but it’s the same thing with

evidence but it’s the same thing with

evidence but it’s the same thing with our unpleasant emotions there’s nothing

our unpleasant emotions there’s nothing

our unpleasant emotions there’s nothing wrong with what we feel the only real

wrong with what we feel the only real

wrong with what we feel the only real issue is with the size of the box in

issue is with the size of the box in

issue is with the size of the box in which we force our emotions to live all

which we force our emotions to live all

which we force our emotions to live all we really have to do is create distance

we really have to do is create distance

we really have to do is create distance and after death or can do that because

and after death or can do that because

and after death or can do that because it’s about the out-breath letting go one

it’s about the out-breath letting go one

it’s about the out-breath letting go one of the many many healing benefits of

of the many many healing benefits of

of the many many healing benefits of laughter is that it creates distance it

laughter is that it creates distance it

laughter is that it creates distance it breaks can break the cycle of negativity

breaks can break the cycle of negativity

breaks can break the cycle of negativity and force a shift in perspective

and force a shift in perspective

and force a shift in perspective laughter has many shapes one of them is

laughter has many shapes one of them is

laughter has many shapes one of them is smiling it’s an easy way to trick your

smiling it’s an easy way to trick your

smiling it’s an easy way to trick your brain into releasing naturally happy

brain into releasing naturally happy

brain into releasing naturally happy chemistry but when you smile don’t just

chemistry but when you smile don’t just

chemistry but when you smile don’t just smile with your mouth

that doesn’t do much for you the true

that doesn’t do much for you the true smile engages the eyes muscles as much

smile engages the eyes muscles as much

smile engages the eyes muscles as much as the mouth so please put you in the

as the mouth so please put you in the

as the mouth so please put you in the expert by touch your thumb with your

expert by touch your thumb with your

expert by touch your thumb with your index put both by the corner of your

index put both by the corner of your

index put both by the corner of your mouth stretch your facial muscles up I

mouth stretch your facial muscles up I

mouth stretch your facial muscles up I unmask as you inhale and take time to

unmask as you inhale and take time to

unmask as you inhale and take time to observe what it looks like only people

observe what it looks like only people

observe what it looks like only people be around you before you exhale and

be around you before you exhale and

be around you before you exhale and again and look really look there are two

again and look really look there are two

again and look really look there are two important things I want to mention at

important things I want to mention at

important things I want to mention at this point the first one is that

this point the first one is that

this point the first one is that thoughts are electrochemical what I mean

thoughts are electrochemical what I mean

thoughts are electrochemical what I mean here is that thoughts are always

here is that thoughts are always

here is that thoughts are always specifically tied to very specific

specifically tied to very specific

specifically tied to very specific chemistry and chemistry is always doing

chemistry and chemistry is always doing

chemistry and chemistry is always doing is always very specifically tied to

is always very specifically tied to

is always very specifically tied to specific behaviors when you change the

specific behaviors when you change the

specific behaviors when you change the behavior you change the chemistry and

behavior you change the chemistry and

behavior you change the chemistry and sooner than later

sooner than later

sooner than later you change the thoughts and to the

you change the thoughts and to the

you change the thoughts and to the mind-body connection actually flows

mind-body connection actually flows

mind-body connection actually flows mostly in the opposite direction it’s

mostly in the opposite direction it’s

mostly in the opposite direction it’s about 80% body to brain and 20% brain to

about 80% body to brain and 20% brain to

about 80% body to brain and 20% brain to body my point here is that when it comes

body my point here is that when it comes

body my point here is that when it comes to a changing or healing your emotions

to a changing or healing your emotions

to a changing or healing your emotions doing in its many many formats will

doing in its many many formats will

doing in its many many formats will always be easier and more impactful than

always be easier and more impactful than

always be easier and more impactful than thinking and that’s the ancient wisdom

thinking and that’s the ancient wisdom

thinking and that’s the ancient wisdom of acting as if let’s do one last

of acting as if let’s do one last

of acting as if let’s do one last exercise so please close your eyes and

exercise so please close your eyes and

exercise so please close your eyes and go back in time to a happy moment where

go back in time to a happy moment where

go back in time to a happy moment where you felt safe we are surrounded by

you felt safe we are surrounded by

you felt safe we are surrounded by people you loved and who loved you and

people you loved and who loved you and

people you loved and who loved you and where you all laughed maybe it was this

where you all laughed maybe it was this

where you all laughed maybe it was this week this month this year at any point

week this month this year at any point

week this month this year at any point in your life when you have it I invite

in your life when you have it I invite

in your life when you have it I invite you to laugh now as if you were back as

you to laugh now as if you were back as

you to laugh now as if you were back as then ready go

thank you thank you it’s time to

thank you thank you it’s time to check-in look within and again reassess

check-in look within and again reassess

check-in look within and again reassess yourself on that scale from one to ten

yourself on that scale from one to ten

yourself on that scale from one to ten has anything changed because if your

has anything changed because if your

has anything changed because if your number has gone up meaning you now feel

number has gone up meaning you now feel

number has gone up meaning you now feel a little bit better than you did just a

a little bit better than you did just a

a little bit better than you did just a few minutes ago then I’ve made my point

few minutes ago then I’ve made my point

few minutes ago then I’ve made my point laughter works if you work it it cannot

laughter works if you work it it cannot

laughter works if you work it it cannot heal not solve anything it’s better it

heal not solve anything it’s better it

heal not solve anything it’s better it can help to heal and dissolve everything

can help to heal and dissolve everything

can help to heal and dissolve everything and the results are just amazing I’d

and the results are just amazing I’d

and the results are just amazing I’d like to thank you for participating and

like to thank you for participating and

like to thank you for participating and in particular for making 10 history

in particular for making 10 history

in particular for making 10 history today by giving me a standing ovation

today by giving me a standing ovation

today by giving me a standing ovation however unusual that was before you even

however unusual that was before you even

however unusual that was before you even heard my talk

thank you thank you thank you thank you

thank you thank you thank you thank you and if it was just that that’d be fine

and if it was just that that’d be fine

and if it was just that that’d be fine but there is more on a deeper note the

but there is more on a deeper note the

but there is more on a deeper note the laughter the joy the love we all seek is

laughter the joy the love we all seek is

laughter the joy the love we all seek is are not outside they are inside they’ve

are not outside they are inside they’ve

are not outside they are inside they’ve always been there waiting for us and

always been there waiting for us and

always been there waiting for us and they always will

they always will

they always will I’m not saying that looking the process

I’m not saying that looking the process

I’m not saying that looking the process of looking past the blood the cloud that

of looking past the blood the cloud that

of looking past the blood the cloud that often blocks is from view is easy but

often blocks is from view is easy but

often blocks is from view is easy but what I am saying is that it’s very much

what I am saying is that it’s very much

what I am saying is that it’s very much it’s very much worth it and when you

it’s very much worth it and when you

it’s very much worth it and when you feel bad you can still have a lot of fun

feel bad you can still have a lot of fun

feel bad you can still have a lot of fun thank you