H. Laughter Wellness
Index:
Let’s now talk about Laughter Wellness.
Practice explaining what you learn below in your own words to a friend or family member!
Definition
What: Laughter Wellness is a fun, safe, and holistic way to improve your well-being and quality of life, and build community. It serves as a revitalizing tonic for the mind and body, rooted in the principle of “acting as if,” which encourages participants to express their best selves by choice rather than as a response to external stimuli. It is accessible and enjoyable, requiring neither humor nor high spirits to participate or facilitate. This method, embraced by thousands across six continents, empowers individuals to cultivate personal growth and meaningful connections.
Who: Laughter Wellness, developed in the late 2000s in the USA by French-American coach and consultant Sebastian Gendry, emerged from his personal quest to recover from burnout. During this journey, he discovered the incredible potential of laughter as a catalyst for healing and well-being. Recognizing the importance of concentrating on overall wellness rather than solely on laughter, he created Laughter Wellness. This comprehensive approach offers a secure, enjoyable, and effective means for individuals to enhance their well-being, facilitate healing, and establish meaningful connections with others.
How: The way Laughter Wellness works is like a circuit breaker for pain and negativity and a washing machine for dirty emotions. It intentionally sets the energy of laughter in motion, acting as a powerful trigger for benefits in five dimensions (physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual health) that form the foundation of healing. Participants are invited to genuinely choose to smile and laugh, wholeheartedly embracing their authentic selves instead of resorting to pretense. This nurturing and invigorating approach empowers individuals to express the best of themselves, no matter their current energy state, without any forced emotions. We follow a simple and safe 5-step process designed to scaffold people’s laughter circuitry and promote the trifecta of happiness: a sense of fullness, feeling anchored in the present, and a sense of freedom.
Guiding Principles
The following are not abstract ideas but instead practical guidelines.
| Guidelines | Practical application |
| Humans are already perfect, whole, resourceful, and creative | Laughter Wellness aims to inspire, empower, and make people think. Its purpose is not to fix anything or anybody. Its fundamental belief is that change is impossible because there is nothing to change. All you can do is choose a different way of being in the face of whatever is. |
| Intention greatly influences outcome | Laughter Wellness postulates that the benefits of laughter are not primarily tied to the physical act of laughing itself but to a mix of variables. It is not what you do that’s most important, but why you are doing it. Don’t fake or force your laughter, for this may make you feel worse if you’re being phony or inauthentic. Instead, choose to laugh as a symbolic expression of the best of who you are or could be at any given moment, using whatever energies are available to you. |
| The only moment of power is now | Learning to narrow your life to the present moment is vital. When you become deeply aware of the present moment, you have peace. This is why Laughter Wellness is designed to promote the trifecta of happiness: a sense of fullness, feeling anchored in the present, and a sense of freedom. |
| A multi-faceted approach to wellness and well-being is critical | Laughter Wellness operates under the understanding that no part of the body/mind/spirit complex, and no part of the brain, works alone. It promotes neuroplasticity and growth experiences using various joy-filled tools, techniques, and exercises. |
| There is a natural progression in the experience of fun and play that must be respected | The energy of play manifests itself in three distinct phases going from less to more. Ignore this, and everything you do will be judged rather than experienced, significantly impacting how much people can benefit from it. |
