By Kathleen Passanisi. Kathleen Passanisi PT, CSP, CPAE is an internationally recognized transformational speaker, therapeutic humor expert, healthcare professional and author. She has spoken to bajillions of people about life balance, wellness, the power of perception, and the link that exists between humor and health. Kathleen is a member of the National Speakers Association Hall of Fame and the funniest woman in Lake Saint Louis, Missouri (and, quite possibly, the Western Hemisphere.) For more information on Kathleen's presentations, books and products please visit the New Perspectives website at www.KathleenPassanisi.com

It’s been called the “idiot box.” It’s been called “the greatest single invention of the 20th century.”

Either way, to say that television is a huge part of daily American life is to state the overwhelmingly obvious. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, “American children and adolescents spend 22 to 28 hours per week viewing television, more than any other activity except sleeping. By the age of 70 they will have spent 7 to 10 years of their lives watching TV.” The effects of sleep on mind and body have been well documented.

But what comes of all this “tube time?”

How does television affect the mind?
In order to understand how television effects our health, we must first understand how it affects the mind. Several studies have shown that the longer one watches television, the easier it is for their mind to slip into “Alpha state.” Here, the brain’s waves are slow and steady. This hypnotic trace-like state is the brain’s most receptive mode. Images and suggestions have maximum impact in this mode. Why else would advertisers spend up to one billion dollars per year on television advertising? But what about what’s between the commercials?

Does negative television reap negative results?
Unfortunately, it can.Since the late 1990s, violence on television has been a hot topic of conversation. Countless acts of violence have been blamed on violence in the media. The shooting at Columbine High School, for example, was widely speculated to be caused in part by repeated viewing of “The Basketball Diaries,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Could this be linked to a core theory of the Law of Attraction, “what you focus on expands?”

Although these theories cannot be proven, it has been shown that watching violent television activates the body and mind’s “fight or flight” response. Since the body knows that the threat is not real, it then suppresses the stress. This rotation of impulse and suppression has been linked to feelings of panicked confusion, resulting in actions similar to childhood hyperactivity. And it isn’t just Primetime drama that affects the mind.

RAND, a research institute, found that of 560 Americans interviewed, 44% experienced multiple stress symptoms after watching coverage of the 9/11 tragedy on television. Ninety percent experienced at least one symptom! Furthermore, children exposed to the coverage were twice as likely to develop post traumatic stress syndrome, according to Harold S. Kipelwicz, M.D., Director of the NYU Child Study Center. Is there a flipside?

Does humorous television reap positive results?
Fortunately, yes! Although the effects of positive effects on television have not been widely reported, the effects of educational programming on children are astounding. According to the Child Health Institute, educational programming “is successful in broadening young children’s knowledge, affecting their racial attitudes and increasing their imaginations.”

Do these effects fade with age? Thankfully, new research about the effect of humorous movies seem to disprove this. Dr. Michael Miller of the University of Maryland Medical Center studied the health effects of two movies, quirky comedy Kingpin and war epic Saving Private Ryan. Researchers used ultrasound technology to monitor study subjects’ arterial blood flow. While watching Saving Private Ryan, fourteen out of twenty subjects experienced reduced blood flow on an average of 35%. However, in nineteen out of the twenty subjects who watched the comedy Kingpin, blood flow increased an average of 22%, an amount Miller equated to aerobic exercise! Even more proof that laughter really is the best medicine!

Similarly, a study by Lee Berk of Loma Linda University found that even the anticipation of a funny movie raises levels of immune boosters in the blood. According to the study, people waiting to watch a favorite funny movie had 27% more beta-endorphins (a natural pain reducer) and 87% more human growth hormone in their bloodstream than the control group. Berk also found that the actual viewing of one hour of a humorous movie (and its subsequent laughter) reduced the body’s production of stress hormones and enhanced immune response for up to one day.

What is the bottom line for you?
Clearly, there is a fine line to be walked. Hours upon hours of television or movie watching of any kind will create the same mind-numbing effects. Moderation is the key!

Then, choose wisely. A simple change of the channel can have profound effects on your mind, mood, and health. Next time, when you’re flipping channels, take a minute to remember that “what you focus on expands.” What do you wish to bring into your life?

Perhaps the greatest truth about television comes from television itself. According to the hit 1970s comedy Taxi, “The great thing about television is that if something important happens anywhere in the world, day or night, you can always change the channel.” Choose to laugh, you’ll thank yourself for it. Happy viewing!

Looking for your next healthcare speaker? Get in touch with us at the Capitol City Speakers Bureau today to make your healthcare event a success!

By Kathleen Passanisi. Kathleen Passanisi PT, CSP, CPAE is an internationally recognized transformational speaker, therapeutic humor expert, healthcare professional and author. She has spoken to bajillions of people about life balance, wellness, the power of perception, and the link that exists between humor and health. Kathleen is a member of the National Speakers Association Hall of Fame and the funniest woman in Lake Saint Louis, Missouri (and, quite possibly, the Western Hemisphere.) For more information on Kathleen's presentations, books, and products, please visit the New Perspectives website at www.KathleenPassanisi.com.

In the last hour, have you felt compelled to answer yet another call on your cell phone or blackberry? Has an angry boss or spouse yanked on your last nerve? Has the television, newspaper, radio, or internet bombarded you with bad news? Have you had problems communicating with your family, friends, or co-workers due to irritability or frustration? Have you suffered from muscular tension, stomach acidity or lack of focus?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you may be “biochemically challenged,” and you are not alone.

According to the Families and Work Institute, four our of ten workers are experiencing burnout on any given day. The stress of daily living seems to be ever-increasing and its effects on work and home life are daunting:

• Stress costs American companies 300 billion dollars annually (Families and Work Institute).
• Approximately 18.8 million adults in America suffer from depressive disorders every year. That's almost 10% of the US population over the age of eighteen (National Institute of Mental Health). 
• Several studies attest that stress increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.
• Communication failures and subsequent familial strain was the second most common cause of divorce in 2006 at 21.6% (Divorce Magazine.)

Clearly, we need to learn to deal with stress before it deals with us. The rising costs of health coverage alone are enough to put you on edge. Boost your benefits by using a tool that's powerful, efficient, and (best of all) free – your sense of humor!

The Physical Benefits of Laughter 
Stress plays a major part in health issues such as headaches, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, asthma, arthritis and other muscular and skeletal conditions. In fact, over 75% of all doctor visits involve stress related illnesses. In the past year, over 43% of the American population has suffered the physical effects of stress (American Psychological Association). The phrase “worried sick” is common in our society for a reason! However, the physical act of laughter has been shown to:
 

• improve cardiovascular function (U. of Maryland Center for Preventive Cardiology)
• relax muscular tension
• exercise the internal organs
• elevate mood
• improve pain tolerance 

The Psychological Benefits of Humor
As William Shakespeare said, “For there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so. ” (Hamlet 2.2). The most crucial thing to focus on when working to reduce daily stress is one's perspective.

Consider the words of Greek philosopher Epictetus (55 – 135 AD), “People are disturbed not by things, but by their perception of things.” Almost two thousand years later, the opinion of modern mental health professionals is consistent with this sentiment. It is not the events of our daily lives that cause our stresses, but the meanings we assign to them. However, humor naturally shifts perspective.

When you learn to shorten the time it takes to shift your perception, you will have mastered one of the most effective stress management techniques. Humor's benefits include: 

• reduction of anxiety, stress, and tension 
• abatement of anger and hostility
• support of psychological well-being/enhance mood 
• heightened sense of general well-being/empowerment/self-esteem
• improved interpersonal relationships

The Social Benefits of Shared Laughter and Mirth
Laughter shortens the distance between people. It is the ultimate bonding tool during high stress situations, assuring all involved that a positive outcome is possible.

Humorous conversation facilitates an increase in eye-contact and inter-personal touch and opens doors for future communication. Sharing one's own sense of humor shows that he or she is approachable - and human! Laughter or the sharing of common experiences can reduce friction among team members.

Colleagues that can laugh together enjoy:

• more finely tuned coping skills
• increased job satisfaction
• better productivity
• enhanced creativity
• higher morale

Remember: laugh “with” others and not “at” them!

You Cannot Lose!
What else can guarantee such improvements in your daily life – and at no cost? In today's pressure-ridden world, it is imperative to remember that, although stress is inevitable, suffering is optional. Take charge of your life and rid yourself of the biochemical roller coaster by incorporating a few of these easy tips!

1. Start every day with humor. Read the comics before anything. Clip and save your favorites for days when you are in a rush, or to share with family, co-workers, clients, etc.
2. Invest in funny audio books and comedic musicians. Laugh your way through long transit times.
3. Take mini ha-ha breaks during the day. Share a laugh with someone you encounter.
4. Show off your sense of humor however possible. Decorate your workspace with things that make you laugh. Seek out note pads, mouse pads, coffee mugs, etc. with a lighter side. 
5. Start a joke file or humor library including personal stories. Keep it clean and practice sharing bits of it. This will enhance your interpersonal skills and pep up a boring presentation or meeting!
6. Socialize with people that laugh a lot. Avoid grouches at all costs. 
7. Make Sunday “Funday.” Avoid techno-stress by turning off all electronic devices. See if you can go a day without email, text messaging, the Internet, or using your cell phone. 
8. Embrace an attitude of appreciation- especially for things that tickle your funny bone.

Looking for your next healthcare speaker? Get in touch with us at the Capitol City Speakers Bureau today to make your healthcare event a success!

By Kathleen Passanisi

In the most famous attic of all time, Anne Frank wrote, “We all live with the objective of being happy; our lives are all different and yet the same.”

And in his very first speech as President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt assured a depression-crippled nation, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

Now, decades later, the study of “Positive Psychology” has shown us that these famous quotes are not only timeless, they are connected.

In his book, What Happy People Know, Dan Baker, Ph.D., reveals that fear is the mortal enemy of happiness. He explains humans have only two primal emotions: love and fear. According to Baker, “Fear impels us to survive, and love enables us to thrive.”

Unfortunately, in a “fight or flight” world, it’s impossible to focus on the joy of your accomplishments or love from those around you. It is clear that fear must be overcome.

Why We Fear  
Overcoming is not an easy task, as fear is a hard-wired evolutionary response. As Baker points out, fear is an impulse rooted in the simplest of all brain parts, the “reptilian” brain stem. The ability to fear evolved over 100 million years ago! What separates our fears from those of a lizard is that our fears are generally coupled with emotion. This coupling takes place in the amygdala, or “mammalian brain.”

The amygdala is the basic home of memory. It is precisely why some adults never outgrow their childhood fears. The amygdala stores them for easy recall. The mammalian brain also triggers the physical side of fear. It signals the release of stress hormones in the brain, which, in turn, raise blood pressure and heart rate and cause queasiness and the jitters.

At one point, this three part fear response was what kept humans alive. First, the danger would approach, the human would recognize it as such, and then the brain would kick the human into “high gear.” Nowadays, however, the root of our fears are rarely physical dangers. There are very few hungry lions in our midst. So why do we have the same type of response?

What We Fear
Baker divides all modern fear in two categories, the “fear of not having enough” and the “fear of not being enough.” At the root of both fears is the myth of scarcity. Dr. Michael Beckwith, featured in the recent self-help phenomenon The Secret, attributes all human suffering to the idea that there is not enough good to go around.

Many people believe there is not enough money, not enough love, not enough oxygen for everyone. Every day, therefore, is a struggle. When we don’t get what we want, we blame some flaw in ourselves, “If only I were smarter, I would make more money. If only I were cuter, somebody might love me.”

This constant self-berating causes a deep sadness in many of us which triggers a terrible cycle. We begin to feel we are unworthy of happiness. Because we are sad, we cling to the little happiness we already have. Because we feel unworthy, we fear the loss of these joys. These fears trigger negative actions.

Believers of the law of attraction and quantum physics will assure you “what you focus on expands.” Soon you’ve created a self-fulfilling prophecy. Imagined loss reaps real loss. Happiness becomes something we futilely chase for instead of something we readily enjoy.
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Fighting Fear with Gratitude
Baker assures us that the antidote to fear is gratitude. Instead of dwelling on what we don’t have and/or what we have to lose, we need to focus on what we do have. This will gradually create a shift in perspective that will reap large rewards.

In his book Happier, Harvard Professor Tal Ben-Shahar, Ph.D. recommends keeping a gratitude journal. He cites a study by Robert Emmons and Michael McCullough which found that people who wrote down five reasons to be grateful daily experienced better physical and mental well-being.

Most psychiatrists will tell you that overcoming fear is a gradual process, best started in small doses. You can’t get much smaller than five things per day! Evolution has set this up as a fail-safe plan. All appreciation is based on love, and love is a product of the neo-cortex, the most evolved brain part. The reptilian fear doesn’t stand a chance!

Start focusing on what you appreciate today, and a brighter, happier tomorrow is yours.

Looking for your next healthcare speaker? Get in touch with us today to make your healthcare event a success!