Laughter as medicine.
Laughter as medicine.
On answering the prompt, "why is laughter such an under-prescribed medicine?"
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From the THINKPEN:
I was asked why laughter is such an under-prescribed medicine and my answer? Capitalism.
That’s the answer to most of the unanswered questions we have about why this world, this country, and even our own minds operate as they do.
Laughter doesn’t meet or exceed the bottom line.
Goldman Sachs asks “If we cure them, how will we sustain the business?”
Business as usual finds the most value in the faces that belong to white men who are long gone and are now painted green or gold.
And when faces are black and brown it is even more difficult to make a case for why laughter is deserved or possible in the first place.
We are not meant to be healed. That isn’t their goal.
Their goal is to keep us reliant on systems that are not meant for us to thrive or heal within. And to be forced to inhabit the same spaces that made us sick in the first place.
So when asked why laughter isn’t the primarily prescribed means of healing, the answer is because “the powers that be” know our joy funds our collective bottom line of survival.
Followup Prompt: “How can you make room for your joy?”
By listening to yourself the first time.
Echoing the sentiments of one of our mothers’ favorite line “AND DON’T LET ME REPEAT MYSELF!”
Oftentimes the first thought, answer, or desired action is the one that we need and will foster the most joy. Yet, it has been ingrained in us to question our first choice in order to hold space for the possibility of something better coming along. Instilling in us the fear of missing out on a higher level of satisfaction and joy when the first choice was already enough.
“Don’t buy the first dress you like, try on more.”
“Don’t marry the first person you fall in love with, date around.”
“Don’t put an offer on the first house you like, tour more.”
Aht. Aht.You heard yourself the first time, and you won’t be repeating yourself.
Not to mention, there are times when you have to laugh to force others into accepting how silly and ignorant they appear, and Yeah, you made it to ThinkPen!