We all want that one magic key to make life as joyful and easy as possible. 

There are many wonderful tools. But there is one tool that is in my top three.

LAUGH! 

That's right, you read this correctly.  As with your multi-vitamin, you should laugh at least once each day.  Unlike your multi-vitamin, there is no upper limit on the dose. 

Laughing changes our brain chemistry, enhancing those feel-good chemicals. I have actually asked clients to watch three sitcom episodes of their choice before our next coaching call.

Humor has gotten my family through some very difficult times.  Without question, one of the worst periods for my family was the seven weeks my father was in a coma before he died.  There was nothing funny about this situation.

Along with the tears--and there were plenty of them--were many, many laughs.  We laughed over silly things.  We laughed because we were so tired.  We laughed over stories about my father. 

Up to this day, we are sure the chauffeur of the limousine who took us to our father's funeral is still telling stories about the awful children who sat in that automobile and laughed all the way to the cemetery.

The laughter kept us sane and allowed us to get through each day.  My brain chemistry was apparently producing enough feel-good chemicals to get through my eulogy without crying.  No doubt people saw us as strong and stoic. 

Of course, they never saw us in our private moments, such as when I went to the cemetery by myself five days after the funeral.  My crying turned into sobs, and I saw no end in sight.  There was no humor at that moment.  But the humor before that moment cradled me and the humor since then has eased the pain.

Try it.  If laughter isn’t coming naturally to you, watch a funny TV show or movie.

Laughing isn't a panacea, but it just may be the most important tool in your bag.