Laughing Release
Materials Needed
Feeling
Embarrassed
How to Do It
Sit or stand in a comfortable position and start by forcing a small, gentle laugh. Gradually let the laugh grow louder and more genuine. Allow yourself to exaggerate the laugh, even if it feels silly. Continue laughing until you feel a release of tension.
Why It Works
Laughter is a powerful way to break the intensity of embarrassment. It helps to shift the energy from serious to playful, reducing the weight of the emotion and making it easier to move on.
Guided Practice
Find a place where you can be alone and feel free to express yourself. Allow yourself to settle into a comfortable position, either sitting or standing. Begin to notice the sensations in your face and body, perhaps feeling a sense of lightness or a hint of joy. Be present with whatever feelings arise, without needing to judge or change them.
Continue to let each breath ease your body and calm your thoughts. Bring a gentle smile to your face, feeling the muscles in your cheeks lift and your eyes soften. Allow this smile to grow into a light chuckle, a small, playful laugh that begins to bubble up from within you.
As you continue to chuckle, let the laughter build. Feel it spreading through your body, perhaps starting in your belly, moving up through your chest, and into your throat. Notice the sensations of laughing — perhaps a warmth in your belly, a lightness in your chest, or a tingling in your face. Stay with these sensations, allowing the laughter to become fuller and more spontaneous. Imagine that with each laugh, you are releasing tension, stress, and old emotions.
Visualize the laughter as a cleansing wave, washing over you and carrying away anything heavy or unwanted. Feel the energy of the laughter filling your body, bringing a sense of joy, release, and freedom. Notice if any emotions, thoughts, or images arise as you laugh — perhaps a sense of joy, a feeling of connection, or even a memory of a happy moment. Allow these experiences to flow naturally, without needing to analyze or change them.
When you feel ready, let the laughter slowly come to a stop, taking a few deep breaths to settle into stillness. Notice how your body feels now — perhaps more relaxed, more open, or simply more joyful. Gently open your eyes, carrying this sense of lightness and joy with you into your day, feeling more connected to your own sense of playfulness and release.