Play More: Live Better

By Cynthia Dano

Hello and welcome (or welcome back!)

In these blogs, I will pass on some tips or info that have been useful for me or my clients.

In the last blog, I discussed the importance and benefits of social support to our health. Embracing social support is one of the 10 healing factors of Radical Remission, a book by Dr. Kelly Turner that details ways in which certain factors seem to help create pathways to healing. I encourage everyone to read the book! Some of my blogs will touch on many of the factors, infused with information from other sources as well. This time, I’d like to bring attention to the healing factor of ‘increasing positive emotions’.

This is a favorite one of my personal mottos is:

“I take frivolity very seriously!”

Fun, play and laughter definitely increase positive emotions! I think as we get older and particularly if we are dealing with serious health issues and/or if all the news on TV seems to be bad, it can be hard to make fun a priority. Children are wonderful mentors in this department. They can make almost anything a game, and they laugh a lot. I recently read that the average four-year-old laughs 300 times a day…the average 40-year-old, only 4. That seems very sad to me. Laughing feels so good! AND guess what? Not only does it feel good, it’s good for you!!! What? Yes!

Laughing, playing, and having fun are actually GOOD for you! In addition to being a fantastic attitude adjuster, they can: reduce stress and cortisol; increase serotonin (which regulates sleep patterns and memory); improve ability to cope; boost energy; improve sleep; increase the release of endorphins (the feel-good chemicals that can even temporarily relieve pain); can help stop distressing emotions; allow us to shift perspective; and boosts the immune system by increasing immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies!!!!

Increasing those positive emotions truly is like good medicine…maybe doctors should be writing prescriptions for fun, play, and laughter!!

So, what are some things you can do to bring laughter, fun and/or play into your day? Hang out with some kids, play some games, or with a pet, joke with strangers, watch some funny movies, blow some bubbles… what are some other things? How can you make these a priority?

What will you do today?

Cheers to FUN!

xo Cynthia

cynthiadano.com

TheNoRegretsProject.com

Check out my book, Uprooted, which chronicles my ovarian cancer recurrence.

I am a two-time cancer survivor, Wellness and Radical Remission coach, and cancer mentor. In this capacity, I love helping other women navigate their cancer journey by helping them implement healing strategies into their lives. I offer a complimentary session to women navigating a diagnosis.