Laughter is one of the most natural expressions of human life, yet for many it has become rare, suppressed, or entirely forgotten. When was the last time you laughed so loudly and freely that your belly began to ache? When was the last time your laughter came from your heart, from your very core?
Most people I meet—especially those who come to me seeking relief from depressive states—cannot even recall when they last laughed like that. Days, months, and even years have gone by without genuine laughter, and in its absence they have become like zombies. Their faces wear the most tortured expressions, heavy with anger, sadness, and depression. Such people often find it difficult to even face themselves in the mirror, for the reflection staring back looks horrible and lifeless.
This is where laughter therapy becomes necessary. It is not a frivolous activity, not an indulgence, but an essential medicine for the body, mind, and soul.
The First Gift of Laughter: Forgetting Yourself
The moment you begin to laugh, something extraordinary happens. Laughter releases good hormones in your body. It alters your inner chemistry and floods your system with a sense of well-being. But beyond this physiological change, the first and greatest benefit of laughter is that you forget yourself.
For those moments of deep laughter, you forget your identity. You forget your name, your role, your social status, your responsibilities, your image, and the countless masks you wear to impress or to survive in the world. Laughter strips away the layers of seriousness that society has burdened you with.
You were created to laugh. It is your natural right, a birthright of the human being. Yet you have deprived yourself of it by trying to fit into social norms and by believing too much in what others say about you. In trying to become someone, in attempting to uphold an image, you have lost the spontaneous joy of being.
Returning to Your Natural State
To laugh is the easiest expression of human life. You were born smiling, giggling, laughing for no reason at all. As a child you knew this truth. In childhood, laughter came to you in abundance, and you lived the most happening life without effort.
But as you grew older, you gave in to your own mind and the minds of others. Slowly you began to function like a robot, a clone imitating the seriousness of adults around you. The laughter that once flowed naturally was replaced with masks, duties, and burdens.
When you are aligned with your natural being, laughter arises effortlessly, even from the silliest and simplest actions. Imagine considering yourself foolish or ignorant—not as an insult but as an act of innocence. This very act can bring laughter bubbling forth. Considering yourself foolish does not diminish your strengths or make you less important to existence. On the contrary, it frees you from the heavy seriousness that suffocates joy.
The Trap of Seriousness
Why have we become so serious? Look around. Most people move through life with a fixed, stern mask on their face. If you suddenly laugh loudly in such a space, they will stare at you with shock, as though you have committed a crime or behaved inappropriately.
This is the conditioning of society. Seriousness is considered maturity, while laughter is dismissed as childish or foolish. But this is an illusion. Seriousness is a disease, while laughter is health. Seriousness is imprisonment, while laughter is freedom.
Trying to become someone other than who you are has made you serious. The desire to be important, to uphold status, to control impressions—these are the real thieves of laughter.
What Laughter Therapy Truly Means
Laughter therapy is the conscious practice of reclaiming this natural joy. It is not about forcing yourself to laugh artificially, but about connecting so deeply with your being that laughter bursts forth spontaneously. When laughter arises from your core, it can last for minutes, for hours, and it can heal you in ways you cannot imagine.
In my therapy sessions, I have witnessed deeply depressive individuals break into unstoppable laughter. They suddenly feel free, light, and alive. The problems that seemed overwhelming only a moment before lose their grip. Life appears simple again, manageable, even joyous.
Why does this happen? Because most of your so-called problems are creations of the mind. The mind shows you life through a negative, pessimistic lens. It magnifies suffering and reduces possibilities. Laughter, on the other hand, dissolves the mind’s hold. In the space of laughter, you discover a truer perspective: you are alive, you are functional, and that alone is the greatest news.
Just imagine if this life force were gone—who would laugh then? Right now, you are alive. You are thriving. You have infinite possibilities to live the next moment the way you want. But this freedom is accessible only if you can step beyond the grip of your mind.
Rediscovering Innocence
Laughter therapy is necessary because you have forgotten your original identity as spirit, as pure energy. In childhood, you laughed because you lived from that place of innocence. But adulthood imposed seriousness upon you.
You encountered criticism and became serious. You encountered appreciation and became serious. Over years and decades, this seriousness has become your mask. Without questioning, you imitated others and lost your spontaneity.
But laughter needs no planning, no reason, no justification. It is available right here, right now.
A Practical Demonstration
You can try a simple practice at home. Close yourself in a room where no one can hear you. Stand or sit comfortably, take a few deep breaths, and simply allow yourself to laugh. At first it may feel artificial or difficult. Your mind will resist and say, “This is silly, this is pointless.” But do not stop. Continue.
Soon, the laughter will take its own rhythm. Without reason, it will flow from deep within you. Before long, you will find yourself laughing continuously, and the energy released will flood your body with joy. You may even laugh for hours.
This is the power of laughter therapy—it bypasses the mind and restores your connection with life energy.
The Danger of Suppressed Emotions
If you are not smiling spontaneously, if laughter does not arise in you daily, then know this truth: you are sick. More than that, you are dangerous to yourself and to those around you.
Suppressed emotions do not vanish. They accumulate, pressurizing your system, and eventually erupt like a volcano. When that eruption happens, it can destroy not only your own peace but also the peace of those who love you.
This is why laughter therapy cannot be taken lightly. It is not entertainment—it is healing at the deepest level. Through laughter you shift your breathing patterns, activating the parasympathetic nervous system, which calms the body and heals the mind.
Laughter is a boon given by existence. Even in your lowest state of energy, it can uplift you instantly.
Where to Begin
Ask yourself honestly: Why do you laugh? Is it for serious reasons, intellectual jokes, clever remarks? Or is it for silly, simple things? In truth, most laughter arises from the silly. Someone trips and falls, and you laugh. Someone makes a ridiculous comment, and you laugh. Children laugh endlessly at things adults dismiss as trivial.
You, too, can rediscover this innocence. Watch a cartoon. Watch prank videos or comedy shows. Observe your own silly actions and laugh at them. These are not distractions; they are tools to bypass the rigid mind. For those moments, the mind is set aside, and the real you emerges.
The mind will resist. It will tell you, “Stop this. You are wasting time.” But trust the therapy. Persist, and the results will astonish you.
The Secrets of Life Hidden in Laughter
When you laugh deeply, life reveals its secrets. Problems shrink. Joy expands. Energy circulates freely. You realize that nothing in this world can stop you from being naturally happy.
I have seen countless transformations through laughter therapy. Depressive faces glow again. Heavy hearts become light. People rediscover energy they thought was lost forever.
You, too, can experience this. Do not underestimate the power of laughter. Begin with simple practices at home. If you find your emotions too suppressed to release naturally, seek guidance. Together we can locate the causes of your blocked energies and bring you back to your natural state.
Remember this: laughter is not optional. It is essential. To laugh is to live. Without laughter, you are merely surviving. With laughter, you are thriving.
