Having More Joy by Bo Sanchez and Dr. Didoy Lubaton

Your mind has the power to command what your body will feel. The body is the communicator of what’s going on in the mind and heart. Your mind is like the software and the body is the hardware. What kind of programming you fill the mind, the body will put into action, consciously or unconsciously. If the programming is faulty, the body will show it. Learn to let your thoughts heal your body.

Let me prove it to you.
I (Didoy) want you to use your full imagination on this one.

I want you to think of a green mango, or any of your favorite food.

I want you to carefully look at it in your mind. Imagine how luscious it is to taste.
Take a whiff and smell its delicious aroma.
Take a piece. Roll it over your tongue and mouth.
Your taste buds are now bursting with flavor, and it gives you much satisfaction.

Tell me, did you feel anything in your mouth? Were you able to taste the food? You salivated, didn’t you?

That’s the power of your mind. When you have so much concern and worry, your head feels heavier and you become more irritable. Your shoulders show the tension that is brewing in your mind.

When you are in a hurry, and you anticipate a big make-or-break meeting, or when you have to speak in front of a big crowd but you are not used to public speaking, your heart races, your palms get sweaty, and your tummy seems to be turning upside down.

When your mind is full of negative thoughts for an extended period and you can’t shake it off from your head, your body will act up and start manifesting negative signals, too. A body pain, tense muscle, or high blood pressure could be communicating that there’s too much tension and pressure on your mind.

When you are stressed, hormones like cortisol and adrenaline will be elevated. These are associated with diseases like increased blood sugar, high blood pressure, and fatigue.

Imagine a mind that is full of positivity, hope, and thanksgiving. That person will most likely heal. That person will produce more endorphins, serotonin, and oxytocin— hormones that make the person feel good and relaxed—and make the body recover and feel better.

Renew your mind today.

Rewire your inner programming and recreate your thought patterns.

When you heal your thoughts, you heal your body.

I urge you to consult these three powerful doctors that will help you heal your mind:

• Dr. Laughter
• Dr.Trust
• Dr. Purpose

Let’s dive in.

1. DR. LAUGHTER

Can I (Bo) share with you an embarrassing story?
I think a normal guy will never share this humiliating experience. But I’m not normal.
One day, I was giving a talk in a hotel. When I arrived at the venue, the first thing I did was to go to the restroom.

I went inside a cubicle to do a number two. Because if it was just a number one, guys don’t go to cubicles. (Some people think I’m so holy that I don’t use the toilet. I just evaporate what needs to be expelled from my body by the power of the Holy Spirit.) The truth is I enjoy doing number twos. It’s one of life’s free pleasures.

While I was sitting on the porcelain throne, I heard voices. Female voices. And I froze. OMG! I was in the wrong restroom.

Right then, I knew this would be at the top of the list of the most humiliating things that ever happened in my life. To make things worse, the women started talking about me. They were part of my audience. One of them said, “I’m so excited! It’s been my dream to meet Bo Sanchez.”

Now I had a choice.

First, I could man up, walk out of the cubicle, and say, “Tadaaaah! Your dream is fulfilled!” After their expected shrieks, I would say, “No, I’m not a pervert. I made a mistake. I’m sorry. Hey, wanna have a selfie?”

My second choice: I could hide until they go away.
So what did I do? I hid.

I was so ashamed, I didn’t step out of the cubicle. I became totally quiet and waited for them to leave.

Big mistake. Here’s the problem I didn’t foresee. They didn’t leave. Why? Because they were women.

Boys go to the toilet for biological needs. Women go to restrooms for social needs. That’s why when women dine together, two or three of them will look at each other and, through facial expressions and sign language, will stand up and go to the toilet together. Guys don’t do that. If a guy tells me, “Pare, toilet tayo,” that would be so weird.

So there I was, listening to their conversations. They kept talking and laughing and crying and talking some more. About their boyfriends and their ex-boyfriends and the ex of their ex-boyfriends. There were so many exes, I lost count.

So I sat in that cubicle for a loooong time, waiting for all of them to leave.

After three days, I finally got out.
Why did I tell you that story?
Because the first doctor of the mind is Dr. Laughter.

God Invented Laughter

Do you feel better now after laughing?

You bet. I believe God made us to celebrate, to laugh, to be happy! That’s why I believe laughter heals.

First of all, the Bible says so: “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones” (Proverbs 17:22, ESV ).

Here are my two big questions for you: How joyful are you? And how often do you laugh?

I believe a number of those who suffer from a weak immune system lacks happiness.

An Irish proverb says, “A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor’s book.”

Did you know that laughter was really used as medicine?

Laughter as Medicine in History

In ancient Greece, doctors told their patients to visit the Hall of Comedians as part of their healing process.

Some native American Indian tribes had clowns working with their doctors. The three most important persons in the tribe were the chief, the doctor, and the clown.

As early as the thirteenth century, surgeons were already using laughter to alleviate the pain of surgery.

In the 1960s, writer Norman Cousins documented his journey to healing using laughter, curing himself from a debilitating illness in six months after watching funny movies in his hospital room.

Also in the 1960s, Dr. Hunter Doherty “Patch” Adams made his hospital rounds in a clown outfit, as he was convinced that “joy is more important than any other drug.”

In the 1990s, Dr. Madan Kataria founded hasya yoga or laughter yoga where small groups of people would gather and start laughing together. He said, “I have not seen anybody dying of laughter, but I know millions who are dying because they are not laughing.”

So it’s best to laugh not just alone but together with your spouse and kids. Have more laughter at work and, with your friends, build relationships through humor and laughter.

It’s not just the act of laughing that makes a person well. A light and happy disposition, a positive sense of humor, and the support of family and friends also come into play.

You don’t have to rationalize to understand that laughter is a good therapy for anyone who is not feeling well. Intuitively, we try to cheer each other up and make someone smile or laugh when we see that they’re not OK.

So go ahead, incorporate laughter in your therapy and share this gift with your family and friends who need a good dose of it!

Five Tips on Having More Joy

Here are five practical strategies on having more joy and laughter in your life . . .

Tip 1: Smile Often

A smile is contagious. You don’t need a reason to smile. In the same way, you don’t need a reason to laugh. Just smile and laugh—and you’ll feel happier with your life.

A smile is a universal sign of social connection among human beings. Try a little social experiment. Smile more when you meet people in your daily routine, like in the elevator, the supermarket, or while you’re commuting. You’ll feel better and, most of the time, others will smile back too.

Tip 2: Spend Time with Fun People

If you have small kids, have fun with them. Play games. Roll on the floor. Make believe. Hula-hoop. Dance!

List down the people you know who are lighthearted and could make you relax and laugh. Call them and spend time with them. Learn how not to take life so seriously. You’ll have more joy.

Do you have grouchies around you? Avoid them if you can. They steal your joy.

One of God’s greatest blessings to me (Bo) is to have a bunch of wacky, witty friends. They’re so funny. And we often burst into laughter for the silliest reasons. When I hang out with them, they drain my stress away.

Tip 3: Take Yourself Less Seriously

Look for the humor in bad situations and learn to laugh at yourself. Accept that stuff happens beyond your control. Relax! Learn from your mistakes and laugh at them because you know they made you better, not bitter. When you make a mistake, look at yourself in the mirror, give a big smile, and say to yourself, “I’m better because of this!” Note that the important thing is you smile when you affirm yourself.

Tip 4: Enjoy Funny Media

As a kid, I (Bo) read joke books. I would get old copies of Readers Digest, cut out “Laughter Is the Best Medicine” columns, and stapled them together. Now that I have kids, I get to watch funny cartoons. My favorites: Kung Fu Panda, Toy Story, Nemo, Monster Inc., The Book of Life, and Horton Hears a Who.

I (Didoy) find myself laughing when reading Pugad Baboy books. I feel like a kid again when I watch movies like Ice Age, Shrek, Big Hero 6, Inside Out, Cars, and The Secret Life of Pets.

You could also look at different funny memes, YouTube or Facebook videos, and laugh your heart away. Make sure that you filter what goes into your mind. Pick a content that’s good, clean, and wholesome.

Tip 5: Make Your Gratitude List

Every night, before you sleep, write down at least five blessings you received that day. Recognizing the positive things in your life will help you overcome negative thoughts, allowing humor and laughter into your life.

You can try another technique. Call or send a message to someone who has helped you or made your life better during the day in a small or big way. Just say a personal word of thanks to them. This will make your day, plus the other person will feel good, too!

Remember, healing flows with thanksgiving. Be thankful for what is, what’s not, and what will be.

One last thing.

Take charge of your joy. Don’t let anybody take it away from you, including yourself. Humor and laughter are gifts from God. So let’s use it and share it.

Here’s the next doctor to consult for your mind . . .

*This excerpt is taken from Whole Again by Bo Sanchez and Dr. Didoy Lubaton.
Photo from Unsplashed.com

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