The pillars of a meaningful life

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A pillar is what supports, what carries, what keeps us upright.

In a house, without solid pillars, everything can collapse. In life, it’s the same.

Our values are those invisible but essential structures that help us stand firm, move forward and make choices that resonate with who we really are.

Find or REfind your pillars

I’m currently participating with a few other people in a “beta” program (under construction) that allows me to question several aspects of my life. I observe. I simply feel. To help me see what I’ve chosen, what’s been instilled in me, what I’ve accomplished, what I no longer want, what I’m keeping.

It’s amazing, beneficial and also a little difficult.

This morning, we did an exercise on our values. Because our values are the foundation of our lives.

First, from a list I was given, I had to circle the values I recognize in myself and group them into categories. Then, I had to establish whether these were my own values, or whether they came from my ancestors, parents, environment, etc. (i.e., inculcated values). And finally, I had to determine the 2 or 3 fundamental values that guide my life. I loved the experience!

A very rewarding and enlightening exercise

In an ever-faster-paced world, where reference points sometimes seem blurred or changing, it’s good to get back to basics: our human values.

Ask yourself: what’s really important to me? What guides my choices, my words, my actions?

For example, I’ve noticed that family ranks very high in my first choices. This is normal, especially at a time when I’ve just lost my mother a few weeks ago. For me, family is an essential haven of love.

But there were two others that stood out.

What do I value?

Take a moment and write. Ask yourself: What do I value?

Kindness, authenticity, respect, listening, solidarity, joy, justice, simplicity, goodness, discipline, integrity, wisdom, family, humor, courage… Make a list.

These values are not abstract words: they are the cement of our relationships and the foundation of our humanity.

When you’re aligned with your values, you feel more alive.

Our actions become more precise, our energy flows better, our bonds are strengthened. Even in difficult times, they offer us solid support. They help us to say no, to set limits, to reach out, to take another step towards others… or towards ourselves.

Why not take a moment to name them?

Do the exercise yourself. What are my 3 core values? The ones that resemble me, the ones I want to embody, the ones I want to pass on.

Do you know what? It seems that we can choose a value and put things into practice to develop it! Do something consciously, every day, as often as possible, to integrate this value.

Gratitude, for example. By taking a moment every morning, every evening, to name or write down 3 things I’m grateful for. I bet that after a few months, paying attention and being in a state of gratitude comes naturally. Our brains WANT to have thoughts of gratitude.

What’s laughter got to do with it?

In my workshops and encounters, I see every day how, with awareness, with respect, with heart, it’s a profoundly human act, rooted in noble values. Laughter can be a bridge between people, when it’s rooted in love for others and recognition of our shared humanity. Without even thinking about it, that’s what IS. That’s the power of laughter!

What are your core values?

I invite you to honor them. To bring them to life in your daily gestures, in your silences, your smiles, your decisions.

Perhaps that’s where the real change in the world lies: that it begins at home, in what we choose to nourish.

Take a moment to visit the pillars of a meaningful life.

It did me a world of good!

Affectionately

Laughter, joy and health

Linda

My radio reports on 104.7fm

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Last fall (in 2023), I had the pleasure of offering weekly columns on 104.7fm radio.

A great challenge!

I was entrusted with 17 weeks of conversations and laughter on the late afternoon drive-home show.

Among the themes explored, I proposed the following:

  • Combat back-to-school stress,
  • Change the way you see things,
  • Laugh and breathe,
  • The benefits of self-mockery,
  • Full awareness,
  • Learn to laugh even when you’re upset…

The presenter and the people in the studio were very open-minded in welcoming me and doing the exercises with me every week! I’m well aware that I took them out of their confidence zone! HAHAHA!

Many people have told me how much it helps, and how much they’re looking forward to Tuesday! As you may have guessed, my columns were part of the Tuesday program.

Some listeners had a little more difficulty playing along, but all in all, it was a great experience for me.

Why?

Because I was sharing a foolproof tool for changing your mood and finding more energy at the end of the workday. A more stressful time when many are stuck in traffic!

Even I was tested when I left the studios! Traffic jams almost every week. It had become a running gag!

Anyway, here’s the link to all the audio capsules. I don’t like them all… but I like having made them!

Listen to one at random, or listen to them all!

Here’s the link to the series.

Many thanks to the station managers for their trust and openness! And a big thank you also to host Frédéric Bisson, with whom I had some wonderful moments of complicity.

Laughter, joy and health

Linda

Laughter at work: A SUPER POWER for your team

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Today, I want to talk to you about something that just might change your perspective on work. A powerful, often underestimated tool that you may have overlooked in your professional toolbox: laughter.

“Linda! Are you talking about laughter? What a surprise!” you might ask!

Yes, you read that right! Laughter has the power to transform your workplace into a more positive, productive and connected place.

All this is confirmed by the customers I work with. After a conference-workshop, team members are in a good mood and leave with renewed energy and a smile. The effects last for several weeks!

Let’s go

Let’s dive into the depths of workplace laughter and discover how it can become your team’s superpower. (And here’s a nice little moving image to get us in the mood! You may have to click on it to get it started, but it moves, I promise.)

Goodbye stress, hello smiles

Laughter is the ultimate remedy for stress. When we laugh, our bodies release endorphins, those little happy hormones that make us feel great, relaxed and at ease. The result? Less stress, less muscle tension, and more smiles. Try carrying a heavy object and laugh out loud! Our bodies are incapable of forcing themselves at this point. It relaxes.

A radiant work environment

Laughter brings that positive atmosphere we all seek in the office. Colleagues laughing together create a warm atmosphere conducive to creativity. The atmosphere at work is one of the key factors in employee well-being and productivity. Laughter has the power to transform a dull office into a dynamic, positive place. Laughter can positively influence your corporate culture, strengthen team spirit and inspire creativity.

Strengthening ties

Laughing together brings us closer together. Shared moments of laughter strengthen the bonds between team members. Whether around the coffee machine or during an after-work outing, laughter creates memories that last. Laughter is the “cement” of professional relationships. And we know it. Relationships between colleagues are at the heart of any high-performance team. Shared laughter fosters communication, reinforces trust and builds solid professional relationships.

Laughter, fuel for creativity

Laughter has the power to unleash our creativity. It enables us to see things from a different angle and find innovative solutions to business challenges. Creativity is at the heart of innovation, and laughter can stimulate creativity in unexpected ways. Laughter encourages divergent thinking, helps find creative solutions to business challenges and fosters innovation. Laughter allows us to “see things differently”.

If we can laugh at all sorts of little everyday things – for example, laughing at our mistakes, laughing at the VISA account, laughing while washing our hands – we might think that by allowing ourselves to laugh, we place ourselves “elsewhere” and we find solutions more quickly to the problems we encounter.

Greater efficiency, less time wasted

Teams that laugh are often more efficient and productive. Laughter helps reduce tension, improve concentration and boost work performance. That’s right! Just think how your breathing changes completely when you laugh. You bring more oxygen to your body and brain. A well-oxygenated brain works much better! You also become more energetic.

The diplomacy of laughter

Laughter is an excellent conflict management tool. It defuses tense situations and facilitates open communication. Laughter can really help teams resolve disagreements constructively… and diplomatically! Try not to get angry or impatient when you start laughing. IM POS SI BLE! Goodbye conflicts!

Laughter, a friend of health

What’s more, laughter has countless health benefits. It strengthens our immune system, activates the parasympathetic system, stimulates the respiratory system, lowers blood pressure and pampers our heart.

Just think about it! Not only is it great to laugh, it’s also great for your physical health! A free aerobic training program!

What are you waiting for?

So, dear friends, why not make laughter part of your corporate culture right now? It could be as simple as sharing a joke every morning, organizing playful brainstorming sessions, starting your meetings or days with a few laughter yoga exercises (no joke! It really works and it’s contagious!) or creating a relaxation corner where you can let go and laugh together (or do your laughter yoga exercises together!). Come on. I’ll give you an example to do with me here.

Laughter is a superpower we all have, so don’t wait any longer. Unleash it and make it an asset to your team.

Laughter is not only good for your health, it’s also a real catalyst for strengthening your bonds, enhancing your creativity and energizing your work.

And most of all, I love to see the shining eyes of employees and team members after they’ve experienced this method, which will become part of their professional toolbox, to everyone’s great delight! It’s just too great!

So, are you ready? Let’s get started!

And tell me how the rest of your day went. I’m sure you’ll have been more smiley, more creative, more collaborative and… happier! That’s right!

I know it. I put it into practice! hihihi!

Laughter, joy and health

Linda

P.S. Click on this link to Ask me what I can do to help! Whether it’s a conference-workshop, a regular workshop or a Rire et Chocolat program, I’m here for you!

P.P.S. Can you feel your superhero cape (or super heRose) flapping in the wind?! HAHAHAHA! There it is!

On the Rouuuuuuute!

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If you’re from Quebec, you probably know that I’m thinking of Pierre Flynn’s song.

I could just as easily sing “On the road again” in several versions, in fact. Willie Nelson or Bernard Lavillier.

Because with my work schedule at the moment, I’ve got a lot of bands on the road, and I’m back on the road again. Much to our delight.

And when I say take to the road, I mean it, because the trips I have to make range from 2 to 6 hours to get there. And, you guessed it, the same amount of time to get back!

Which means I spend a LOT of time sitting in my car – driving most of the time.

To keep me alert and attentive

In the past, I used to go to the library to borrow audio novels. I LOVE listening to stories.

The only hitch was that sometimes I became less focused on the road and felt myself getting drowsy. Some voices are so soft and calm that it had a “sleep-inducing” effect on me! And when you’re driving, the last thing you want is to fall asleep at the wheel. Either that or I didn’t want to get out of the car, too enthralled by the story! HAHAHA!

So…

I started listening to podcasts. Of all kinds. Both podcasts that taught me things and others that amused me and made me laugh (the latest being the excellent“Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe” by the late Stuart McLean, my #1 national treasure).

But then again, after a while, my attention sometimes wanes.

Except when they deal with more exciting subjects. Police investigations, for example. Or, for the past few months, my two favorite podcasts have been really inspiring stuff.“We regret to inform you – The rejection podcast” and“Under the Influence” with Terry O’Reilly.

And of course, I listen to mine! L’Élément JOIE and The JOY Element. Still. It’s always good to refresh my memory on all the inspiring conversations I’ve captured over the years!

Still, it can get a bit… sleepy at times.

So Linda, what are you doing? you might ask!

Well, I start laughing!

I surprise you, I know! HAHAHA!

But laughing works on several levels in my body and it both relaxes me and whips up my energy.

Does that seem contradictory to you?

Think about it for a moment.

When you laugh, your body activates – so all your body’s systems activate. By doing so, you increase the oxygen in your body AND IN YOUR BRAIN. More oxygen to the brain awakens my attention. I don’t have to laugh for long for the effect to work its magic. A few 30 seconds and that’s it. For a while. Until I need to laugh again!

However, if I’m in rush-hour traffic or in traffic jams (which works my patience muscles!), then laughing allows me to breathe more. And when I laugh, I breathe deeply. And deep breathing means, “Let’s calm our nerves! The nervous system takes a little break.

There are days, however, when I choose something else: SINGING!

Now I’ve got the whole shebang in my car!

I have several playlists set up for my moods. And the ones I listen to in the car are more often than not upbeat. Not only do I sing, I almost dance in my seat! HAHA! In any case. I certainly jiggle. And that, too, keeps me alert and in a good mood.

Are you trying any of my effective methods? Are you already doing it?

Let me know. I’m interested!

And off to new adventures!

Laughter, joy and health

Linda

Back to school

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September. Back to school. Back to work. The coming autumn.

If you’re a parent and your child (or children) have recently gone back to school, you might like this suggestion to help the whole family cope with these changes more healthily and serenely.

How was your first day back?

Remember when you went back to school in September? Brand new school supplies in your bag. Nice clean notebooks. Brand new pencils. And a sense of trepidation about what lay ahead. The unknown.

Was the teacher going to be nice? What about my classmates? Would I be able to learn the lessons? Would I have a lot of work to do?

What I remember is that with each new year, I set off with a mixture of excitement, apprehension, pleasure… and anxiety.

New class. New teacher. Would they like me? Would I like them?

Finding your place

I can’t say I was the most sociable child at school. At least, that’s not how I remember my early school years. I had friends, yes, but I was rather reserved and studious – although according to my report cards, I sometimes got lost in my daydreams! But I did very well. And that made me really proud!

It was only later that I realized the value of humor and laughter in making friends and getting out of situations! Around adolescence.

However, I remember very well that every time I went back to school, I didn’t breathe much!

And that’s where I have a suggestion for you!

BREATHE IN LAUGHTER!

I have a simple exercise to suggest, and you can do it even if you don’t have a child starting school!

Laugh at the vowels!

You don’t need to read the letters to do the exercise with me. Do it with (or without) your child. Just by looking at me. But DO IT!

Not only do the vowels emit vibrations that are different from one another, but you’ll also have..:

  • Breathed
  • Works your diaphragm, massaging your internal organs
  • Help your nervous system to calm down
  • Oxygenate your body and YOUR BRAIN

Want more ideas for effective exercises to do with (or without) your child? There are many here , and you can also subscribe to the Laughter Yoga School YouTube channel.

Ready for a smooth, serene back-to-school?

You know what to do!

Laughter, joy and health

Linda

If I had known what I know now

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We often hear this phrase. If I had known what I know now…

I confess, when I realized the impact of stress on the brain and how it absolutely cannot work in the same way at that moment, I thought “this explains it”! If I had known what I know now, I would certainly have taken steps to relax before my exams at school (from high school to university)!

“Stress eventually becomes harmful. Over time, high cortisol levels degrade the brain and other body systems. This kind of brain damage is associated with a number of health problems, including depressive and anxiety disorders, as well as memory loss and dementia.” Let’s talk science

Imagine this scene.

You’re in a large auditorium – at the theater or elsewhere – and suddenly the power goes out. What happens?

The lights go out and those that come on are just the little beacons to indicate emergency exits.

In a way, this is the same phenomenon that occurs in the brain when we’re under stress. The lights go out – the circuits that aren’t ESSENTIAL to our survival shut down – and all that’s left are tiny spotlights that shine dimly to show us which way to go.

What are “non-essential” circuits?

Just think about it. Patience, communication, concentration, a sense of humor… and that’s what will keep me alive. Nervous reflexes, more adrenalin, faster heartbeat, shorter breathing, etc.

Had I known…

I’m sure I’m not the only one to have stood in front of my exam paper and been left completely blank by questions I knew the answers to the night before! When I got to the exam room, I now realize that I was developing a higher level of stress. Hello closed circuits! Impossible to remember anything! My brain didn’t work in the same way at all!

Why am I telling you all this?

Because everyone in exam time (children and adults alike) risks experiencing this “radio silence” if they let themselves be overwhelmed by stress! The circuits won’t work as well BECAUSE OF STRESS!

Once you’re aware of the impact stress has on brain function and know the quickest way to zap stress effectively, you can change things!

You know what medium I’m talking about, don’t you? HAHAHA! YES!!! LAUGH!

So my little 5-cent tip* is to take a few minutes before entering the exam room to breathe slowly and LAUGH. For at least 3 minutes! Laugh and breathe. It’s the best way to calm your nervous system, center yourself and reset your circuits before the stressful activity.

I say it sometimes. If I had known what I know now, I might be a dentist right now! HAHAHAHAHA!

Here’s a little gift to help you.

Laughter, joy and health

Linda

*Do you know Charlie Brown? How about Lucy’s consultation counter where she charges 5 cents for her advice? See? hihihi!

Find a laughing partner

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I can’t remember where or when, but I read an article a friend was writing, in which he mentioned the importance of having a “laugh partner”. The idea may make you smile, but it’s an excellent one!

When I train laughter yoga facilitators, I always invite them to identify the people in their lives who help them to laugh.

Why?

For the simple reason that they help us stay healthy!

The social element of our lives has taken a beating since the start of the pandemic. We haven’t seen each other for months! And for the vast majority, the isolation has been more than a blow to morale.

No matter whether we’re going through a stormy, stressful time or not, the people around us who make us laugh are “essential services”! Guardian angels. Lifelines.

Take a look around you. I’m sure if you think about it, you’ll find one or more people who make you laugh when you meet or talk to them.

That’s who you need to surround yourself with. To create a positive network that keeps you in shape!

Back in 2003, when I was training to become a laughter yoga facilitator, when I was asked to “Write down three things that make you laugh”, I wrote the name of a friend in my notebook. This friend always has the gift of making me laugh (at all sorts of trivial things!!). I realized that we didn’t talk very often, but whenever we did, I always laughed myself to tears! So I resolved to multiply the opportunities to talk to him and meet him. Precisely because we’re both always laughing. I feel like I’ve recharged my battery of good humor. Even though we often make fun of each other, we always laugh heartily and leave with a lighter heart.

Finding a laughter partner can have many benefits for your physical and emotional well-being.

  1. Stress reduction: Laughter is a natural way to reduce stress and anxiety. When you laugh, your body releases endorphins, which are hormones that give you a feeling of well-being and relaxation.
  2. Improved mental health: Laughter can also improve your mental health by reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety. It can help you feel happier and more optimistic.
  3. Strengthening social relationships: Laughing with others can strengthen social bonds and help you feel more connected to others. It can also improve your self-confidence and your ability to communicate with others.
  4. Improved physical health: Laughter can benefit your physical health by boosting the immune system, improving circulation and reducing pain.
  5. Reduced isolation: Finding a laughter partner can help you break out of isolation and engage more with the world around you. This can be particularly beneficial if you’re experiencing stress or loneliness.

In short, finding a laughter partner can have many benefits for your overall well-being. So don’t hesitate to laugh often and seek out people with whom you can share this positive experience.

Do you?

I encourage you to find one (or more!) laughing partners!

It could even be one of your grandchildren, if you have any! It’s great to show our offspring that we’re capable of being playful and laughing out loud! It’s an important lesson to teach them how to laugh for the rest of their lives.

Really, put it on your to-do list! And cherish your laughter partners.

Well, I just called mine and left him a voicemail that’s sure to make him smile! Want to know what I said? “Your text says you’ll call me back. Is that true? At what time? On what day? Are you going to call me to confirm when? In the meantime, I was calling to say hello… (pause) Hello! Ok Bye!”

Laughter, joy and health

Linda

P.S. Oh, and if you want me to be your laughing partner for a few days, sign up for the MORAL BOOST capsules!

Do you have a healthy lifestyle?

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Big question. Is a healthy lifestyle important to you?

Is your answer yes?

  • You brush your teeth after every meal (or at least twice a day!).
  • You eat well.
  • You drink water.
  • You wash yourself.
  • You sleep 7 hours a night (when everything’s going well!).
  • You exercise a few times a week (even if it’s walking, it counts).
  • You take some time off.
  • You see friends.
  • You’re taking a vacation.
  • You laugh heartily for several minutes a day.

Did you say YES to all of these? Did you say NO to one or more? Then there’s something seriously missing from your healthy lifestyle. And I’m willing to bet that what’s missing is LAUGHTER!

Am I wrong?

When you know all the benefits of a good, energetic laugh (the kind that makes your belly move and sounds good), you wonder why we don’t allow ourselves to do it assiduously and daily!

Why aren’t we laughing more?

Because we adults are in our heads! And our heads are full of worries, responsibilities, performance ideas and so on. And when the head is full of “serious, important things”, there’s no room for a sense of humor.

That’s why I love laughter yoga so much. Because it allows me to maintain a healthy lifestyle and laugh at will even when my grown-up brain is busy dealing with grown-up problems!!! HAHAHA!

An experience

Would you like to experiment with me?

I suggest you do the exercise in this one-minute video with me. Just one minute of your time.

And let me know if you succeed – but to succeed, you have to WANT to laugh!

Let me know how you feel AFTERwards.

Come on. Just a minute. Here we go!

Laughter, joy and health

Linda

 

The Good Mood Summit!

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Start the year by doing something for YOU!

Need to change things? Lighten up your life? To nourish your being with something benevolent, smiling, beneficial?

The Good Mood Summit is practical, fun and concrete. Find out which tools can help you bring lightness into your life.

A daily dose of morale booster and inspiration.

Each day, two experts will enlighten you and share – live with you – a different tool.

You’ll enjoy discovering every day that there’s such a great source of little moments that change your mood for the better!

From January 21 to 29, 2022, two conferences/workshops each day.

17 international speakers to inspire you.

Eight days to take the time to put “good mood” resources into practice.

Do you have any idea of what will be presented?

  • Qu’il y a dans ma trousse bonne humeur (Linda Leclerc)
  • La voix de la bonne humeur / un enchantement de soi (William Herremy)
  • To be or not to be, that is the question (Jean-Christophe Seznec)
  • Mood-enhancing foods and healthy recipes (Julie Barbeau Capruciu)
  • The power of the heart / NeuroJoy (Antoinette Layoun)
  • Cardiac coherence: generating well-being from the heart (Guy Lacroix)
  • Mandala of Joy (Guylaine Leblanc)
  • Positive keys to self-revelation (Justine Chabane)
  • Playing for laughs and growth (Sébastien Gendry)
  • The Optimist Challenge (Rosanna Bruzzone)
  • Wonder: putting stars in the eyes of young and old alike! (Élise Mareuil)
  • Programming a good mood with NLP and humanist hypnosis (Sonia Dumont)
  • Reactive vs. proactive: mood physiology and BrainGym (Lisa Marcovici)
  • Bringing play back into life (Julien Peschot)
  • Joy meditation (Corinne Cosseron)
  • Laugh it up (Linda Leclerc)
  • Extasy Dance Bonne Humeur (Nat Barrera)

And it all starts with a FREE pre-event conference on January 18, En route vers la bonne humeur (William and Catherine Herremy and Linda Leclerc).

All the information is on the Summit website

Nuggets of inspiration every minute!!! Here’s what’s in store!