By Kac Young PhD, ND, DCH

Continued from part 1 of this article…..

4) Get a new haircut, change your hair color…unless of course, that’s what brought you to the brink in the first place. Don’t just walk in and say, “Hey, change my look,” unless you know the stylist and the salon and are confident about their work. Flip through some hairstyle magazines or look online and bring the picture to the stylist. Pick a color you’ve always wanted to try and go for it. Abandon expectations and let the new locks roll. Find out for yourself if blondes really do have more fun, if that has always been your secret desire. (For the record, I looked like a polar bear in a blizzard with blond hair – but at least now I know.)

5) Don’t consume a hot fudge sundae, indulge in a whole cheesecake, an entire box of Girl Scout cookies, a pint of Hagen Das, or a half-gallon of cheap burgundy. Instead, go to a frozen yogurt shop, add the fresh berries, skip the candy bar sprinkles and use a sugar free topping. There! You’re having a treat, but not one that will spike your insulin rate, add inches to your thighs and make you feel worse for having indulged. Caloric punishment will only add to your negative feelings and your physical lethargy. Treat yourself, but make it healthy.

6) Journey outside yourself and leave five messages for old friends that let them know you are thinking about them. If you want to avoid potentially getting into a long conversation, send them an online card or mail them a “thinking of you” physical card. Tell them what they mean to you and then pop it in the post.

7) Go to the bank and withdraw $50 or $100 from your account (unless lack of funds is what lost your laugh – then withdraw a little less, but still do it!) Have the teller count it out in one dollar bills for you. Spend each dollar with intention and thoughtfulness. Indulge yourself if you like, or pass the money around in creative ways. This activity will take your mind off your situation and boost your internal energy rockets as you become more and more creative with your stash of $1’s. You’ll feel the fun return right down to your toes.

8) What’s in town? Check out local listings and get yourself to the park for some music, a coffeehouse for a reading, a theater for a play, a school for a recital, a college for a dramatic presentation, a dance company for a performance, anything, anywhere that emanates from the heart and soul of an artist. If you’re in a rural area, check on the Internet for a lavish performance that will mesmerize and enchant you. Great sports events and competitions can do the same thing for you, if you are so inclined.

9) Move. If you get physical, take a brisk walk, climb a few flights of stairs, visit a gym, take part in yoga or Tai Chi, you will find you “feel better” right away. When you do something physical your brain releases the “feel good chemicals” – neurotransmitters and endorphins – that can ease your anxiety or stress. Physical exercise also reduces the immune system chemicals that can worsen your mood. Finally, exercise elevates your body temperature which has calming effect on your body. When you feel relaxed, then you are able to cope with life’s little demands and interruptions more easily. This is the easiest and simplest way to start feeling better right away. It cleans out the chemicals that are dragging you down and replaces them with the same ones that chocolate stimulates. Don’t think you can substitute chocolate for exercise… you’ll not achieve the same result.

10) Food for thought: “Primal laughter evolved as a signaling device to highlight readiness for friendly interaction,” Professor Panksepp, a neuroscientist at Washington State University states: “Occasionally we’re surprised into laughing at something funny, but most laughter has little to do with humor. It’s an instinctual survival tool for social animals, not an intellectual response to wit. It’s not about getting the joke. It’s about getting along.” This tells us that we might not have lost our inner laugh, we may have lost an intimate connection to others. We may need to find some better ways to get along with those around us. Write down 5 things you need in your life that would make it better. And, write down five things you could do to make someone else’s life better. Then make a date and go talk to them. Share your thoughts and see what happens when you are open, cooperative and expressive. I’d be willing to bet that you’re going to feel more relaxed, more tolerant, more trusting and less annoyed with life and the people in it.

Okay, now that we’re on the same track, I’ve got to give my friend Karen – my LRK- a call. I could use a big dose of inappropriate and uncontrollable laughter. How about you?

– Kac Young , a former television director and producer, has earned a Ph.D. in Natural Health and is a Doctor of both Clinical Hypnotherapy and Naturopathy. She is the author of 10 books. Heart Easy is a system of nutritionally sound, delicious meals that promote heart health, long life and taste great. Traditional recipes have been turned into heart healthy meals that anyone can make. The health results are outstanding.