How Lightheartedness Can Benefit Our Mental Health
One definition of lightheartedness is an “involved but detached” way of being. In some ways, particularly when dealing with chronic or long-term issues, this method of coping is attractive. Anyone who feels a bit burnt out from a constantly heavy and serious atmosphere around these issues may find that including some fun or humor in their coping strategies is a welcome idea.
I’m hoping to include a more playful, humorous, and lighthearted style of assessing and holding space for the things I’m dealing with. Disconnection, depression, anxiety, and stress can all feel heavy but don’t have to constantly weigh us down. We can “care deeply and hold it lightly” as this article describes.
The Mayo Clinic also describes how humor can help us relieve stress. So long as we’re not using humor to avoid issues, a few laughs along the way while healing sounds amazing. Sometimes we can feel burnt out from constantly moving through a mental health journey with a cloud of seriousness or heaviness overhead. Any way to make the journey toward healing more enjoyable is something I’m willing to try out.
Incorporating Lightheartedness Into My Mental Health
As a rather sensitive person who views mental health as a serious topic, I’ve been incorporating lightheartedness as a coping strategy to help alleviate a bit of the heaviness I often feel from the weight of darker emotions or thoughts that come in waves.
After I let myself really feel something like an intense bout of irritation, anger, or sadness, I practice putting words to my feelings and show myself compassion. Then, I reflect or talk to myself about how I feel in a humorous or light way.
Recently, as noted by my therapist, I’ve even started communicating my struggles with jokes or sarcasm. I’ve laughed at how illogical and often confusing my emotions and emotional roadways can be—accepting that a lot of the time, this stuff doesn’t make sense. And to a certain extent “holding it lightly” is a way to honor that and make the road to healing much less daunting and more easygoing.
Which, after being in therapy for a while and moving through the dark and heavy times, is a welcome bright spot that has re-invigorated the energy available to me for healing, letting go, and growing more authentically into myself.
Therapy and the mental health journey in general can be tough. We face roadblocks, frustrations, and confusion so often. Including a bit of easygoing humor in the pockets where it’s appropriate can be an effective way of coping.
Feeling Lighter
Lightheartedness and mental health seem like a counterintuitive pairing. The constant fire of pain and stress seems like the last thing anyone wants to take lightly. And I understand that there are times for seriousness and concern. But if a lighthearted approach can make the healing journey easier, I’m an advocate for at least trying it out.
If you don’t already, try incorporating humor or lightheartedness in your own self-talk. In your journal reflections or moments of self-reflection, be kind as well as funny in dealing with yourself.