Lets start by considering the following definitions:

“Serious” – earnest, deep thought, grave, sober, solemn.

“Light-hearted” – cheerful, carefree, happy, untroubled, free from anxiety or seriousness, hopeful, easygoing.

It is interesting to note that being serious requires you to be deep in thought. I have in previous articles touched on the consequences of too much focus on and ownership of the myriads of thoughts that pass through our minds on a daily basis.

There is a tendency to believe that we are what we think. Whereas the contrary is true – we are the observer or witness to these thoughts and as such have the choice over what we focus our attention on.

In my coaching sessions clients often refer to being afraid of the thoughts they are having and as such have identified themselves with them.

When we identify with our thoughts we experience both the psychological and physiological effects of these thoughts. However, just because we have these thoughts does not mean that is who we are. Most of our thought processess are randomly generated from the hard drive of our subconscious mind where they are stored.

In short if we identify with out thoughts we will be affected at the periphery of our BEING by the “ups and downs” which they generate. However, at the core of our BEING there remains peace.

We spend much of our daily lives in “serious” mode – deep in thought.

Life has become a serious business particularly when we focus on self-preservation and trying to be right! We fool ourselves into believing that thinking will keep us in control and protect us from imagined perils.

Don’t get me wrong here – a thinking mind is a necessary tool without which we could not function in today’s world. However, while the mind makes a great servant it makes a terrible master!

Given the connection between our minds/brains and our bodies there is little wonder that there has been a significant increase in dis-eases like cancer.

Imagine the effect on the human body of a mind-set which is disproportionally fearful, anxious, grave and solemn. We start to feel pessimistic, heavy and sad. Life becomes predictable and unsatisfying.

Such a mind-set is likely to to create a constant atmosphere of worry. When you worry at something too much it eventually wears down like a dog worrying at a bone.

By comparison when we maintain a level of light-heartedness in our lives we experience happiness, good chear and a lightness of spirit. We feel optimistic and good. Life becomes a mysterious adventure .

It is interesting to note that “many scientists today believe that the heart which maintains a constant two-way dialouge and relationship involving many processes in the brain, contains a brain of its own right. The heart and brain actually influence each other’s functioning with the heart sending more information to the brain than the other way round – The Institute of Heartmath”

This gives new meaning to the phrase “have a heart”.

The effect of heart-felt laughter should not be underestimated. I believe that one of the keys to living a happy life is taking a dose of laughter three times daily until dead!