Humor is infectious. The
sound of roaring laughter is far more contagious than any cough, sniffle, or
sneeze. When laughter is shared, it binds people together and increases
happiness and intimacy. Laughter also triggers healthy physical changes in the
body. Humor and laughter strengthen your immune system, boost your energy,
diminish pain, and protect you from the damaging effects of stress. Best of
all, this priceless medicine is fun, free, and easy to use.
sound of roaring laughter is far more contagious than any cough, sniffle, or
sneeze. When laughter is shared, it binds people together and increases
happiness and intimacy. Laughter also triggers healthy physical changes in the
body. Humor and laughter strengthen your immune system, boost your energy,
diminish pain, and protect you from the damaging effects of stress. Best of
all, this priceless medicine is fun, free, and easy to use.
Laughter is a powerful
antidote to stress, pain, and conflict. Nothing works faster or more dependably
to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humor lightens
your burdens, inspires hopes, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded,
focused, and alert.
antidote to stress, pain, and conflict. Nothing works faster or more dependably
to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humor lightens
your burdens, inspires hopes, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded,
focused, and alert.
With
so much power to heal and renew, the ability to laugh easily and frequently is
a tremendous resource for surmounting problems, enhancing your relationships,
and supporting both physical and emotional health.
so much power to heal and renew, the ability to laugh easily and frequently is
a tremendous resource for surmounting problems, enhancing your relationships,
and supporting both physical and emotional health.
Laughter is good for your health
- Laughter relaxes the whole body. A good, hearty
laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed
for up to 45 minutes after. - Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter
decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and
infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease. - Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s
natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of
well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain. - Laughter protects the heart. Laughter
improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can
help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.
The benefits of laughter
Physical Health Benefits |
· Boosts immunity · Lowers stress hormones · Decreases pain · Relaxes your muscles · Prevents heart disease |
Mental Health Benefits |
· Adds joy and zest to life · Eases anxiety and fear · Relieves stress · Improves mood · Enhances resilience |
Social Benefits |
· Strengthens relationships · Attracts others to us · Enhances teamwork · Helps defuse conflict · Promotes group bonding |
Laughter
makes you feel good. And the good feeling that you get when you laugh remains
with you even after the laughter subsides. Humor helps you keep a positive,
optimistic outlook through difficult situations, disappointments, and loss.
makes you feel good. And the good feeling that you get when you laugh remains
with you even after the laughter subsides. Humor helps you keep a positive,
optimistic outlook through difficult situations, disappointments, and loss.
More
than just a respite from sadness and pain, laughter gives you the courage and
strength to find new sources of meaning and hope. Even in the most difficult of
times, a laugh–or even simply a smile–can go a long way toward making you feel
better. And laughter really is contagious—just hearing laughter primes your
brain and readies you to smile and join in the fun.
than just a respite from sadness and pain, laughter gives you the courage and
strength to find new sources of meaning and hope. Even in the most difficult of
times, a laugh–or even simply a smile–can go a long way toward making you feel
better. And laughter really is contagious—just hearing laughter primes your
brain and readies you to smile and join in the fun.
The link between laughter and mental health
- Laughter dissolves distressing emotions. You can’t feel
anxious, angry, or sad when you’re laughing. - Laughter helps you relax and recharge. It reduces
stress and increases energy, enabling you to stay focused and accomplish
more. - Humor shifts perspective, allowing you
to see situations in a more realistic, less threatening light. A humorous
perspective creates psychological distance, which can help you avoid
feeling overwhelmed.
Humor
and playful communication strengthen our relationships by triggering positive
feelings and fostering emotional connection. When we laugh with one another, a
positive bond is created. This bond acts as a strong buffer against stress,
disagreements, and disappointment.
and playful communication strengthen our relationships by triggering positive
feelings and fostering emotional connection. When we laugh with one another, a
positive bond is created. This bond acts as a strong buffer against stress,
disagreements, and disappointment.
Laughing with others is more powerful than laughing alone
Creating
opportunities to laugh
- Watch a funny movie or TV show.
- Go to a comedy club.
- Read the funny pages.
- Seek out funny people.
- Share a good joke or a funny story.
- Check out your bookstore’s humor
section. - Host game night with friends.
- Play with a pet.
- Go to a “laughter yoga” class.
- Goof around with children.
- Do something silly.
- Make time for fun activities (e.g.
bowling, miniature golfing, karaoke).
Shared
laughter is one of the most effective tools for keeping relationships fresh and
exciting. All emotional sharing builds strong and lasting relationship bonds,
but sharing laughter and play also adds joy, vitality, and resilience. And
humor is a powerful and effective way to heal resentments, disagreements, and
hurts. Laughter unites people during difficult times.
laughter is one of the most effective tools for keeping relationships fresh and
exciting. All emotional sharing builds strong and lasting relationship bonds,
but sharing laughter and play also adds joy, vitality, and resilience. And
humor is a powerful and effective way to heal resentments, disagreements, and
hurts. Laughter unites people during difficult times.
Incorporating
more humor and play into your daily interactions can improve the quality of
your love relationships—as well as your connections with co-workers, family
members, and friends. Using humor and laughter in relationships allows you to:
more humor and play into your daily interactions can improve the quality of
your love relationships—as well as your connections with co-workers, family
members, and friends. Using humor and laughter in relationships allows you to:
- Be more spontaneous. Humor gets you
out of your head and away from your troubles. - Let go of defensiveness. Laughter helps
you forget judgments, criticisms, and doubts. - Release inhibitions. Your fear of
holding back and holding on are set aside. - Express your true feelings. Deeply felt
emotions are allowed to rise to the surface.
Want
more laughter in your life? Get a pet……..
Most
of us have experienced the joy of playing with a furry friend, and pets are a
rewarding way to bring more laughter and joy into your life. But did you know
that having a pet is good for your mental and physical health?
Studies show that pets can protect you depression, stress, and even heart
disease.
of us have experienced the joy of playing with a furry friend, and pets are a
rewarding way to bring more laughter and joy into your life. But did you know
that having a pet is good for your mental and physical health?
Studies show that pets can protect you depression, stress, and even heart
disease.
Laughter
is your birthright, a natural part of life that is innate and inborn. Infants
begin smiling during the first weeks of life and laugh out loud within months
of being born. Even if you did not grow up in a household where laughter was a
common sound, you can learn to laugh at any stage of life.
is your birthright, a natural part of life that is innate and inborn. Infants
begin smiling during the first weeks of life and laugh out loud within months
of being born. Even if you did not grow up in a household where laughter was a
common sound, you can learn to laugh at any stage of life.
Begin
by setting aside special times to seek out humor and laughter, as you might
with working out, and build from there. Eventually, you’ll want to incorporate
humor and laughter into the fabric of your life, finding it naturally in
everything you do.
by setting aside special times to seek out humor and laughter, as you might
with working out, and build from there. Eventually, you’ll want to incorporate
humor and laughter into the fabric of your life, finding it naturally in
everything you do.
Here
are some ways to start:
are some ways to start:
- Smile. Smiling is the
beginning of laughter. Like laughter, it’s contagious. Pioneers in “laugh
therapy,” find it’s possible to laugh without even experiencing a funny
event. The same holds for smiling. When you look at someone or see
something even mildly pleasing, practice smiling. - Count your blessings. Literally make
a list. The simple act of considering the good things in your life will
distance you from negative thoughts that are a barrier to humor and
laughter. When you’re in a state of sadness, you have further to travel to
get to humor and laughter. - When you hear laughter, move toward it. Sometimes humor
and laughter are private, a shared joke among a small group, but usually
not. More often, people are very happy to share something funny because it
gives them an opportunity to laugh again and feed off the humor you find
in it. When you hear laughter, seek it out and ask, “What’s funny?” - Spend time with fun, playful people. These are
people who laugh easily–both at themselves and at life’s absurdities–and
who routinely find the humor in everyday events. Their playful point of
view and laughter are contagious. - Bring humor into conversations. Ask people,
“What’s the funniest thing that happened to you today? This week? In your
life?”
One
essential characteristic that helps us laugh is not taking ourselves too
seriously. We’ve all known the classic tight-jawed sourpuss who takes
everything with deathly seriousness and never laughs at anything. No fun there!
essential characteristic that helps us laugh is not taking ourselves too
seriously. We’ve all known the classic tight-jawed sourpuss who takes
everything with deathly seriousness and never laughs at anything. No fun there!
Some
events are clearly sad and not occasions for laughter. But most events in life
don’t carry an overwhelming sense of either sadness or delight. They fall into the gray zone
of ordinary life–giving you the choice to laugh or not.
events are clearly sad and not occasions for laughter. But most events in life
don’t carry an overwhelming sense of either sadness or delight. They fall into the gray zone
of ordinary life–giving you the choice to laugh or not.
Ways to help yourself see the lighter side of life:
Checklist
for lightening up
When
you find yourself taken over by what seems to be a horrible problem, ask these
questions:
you find yourself taken over by what seems to be a horrible problem, ask these
questions:
- Is it really worth getting upset over?
- Is it worth upsetting others?
- Is it that important?
- Is it that bad?
- Is the situation irreparable?
- Is it really your problem?
- Laugh at yourself. Share your
embarrassing moments. The best way to take yourself less seriously is to
talk about times when you took yourself too seriously. - Attempt to laugh at situations rather than bemoan them. Look for the
humor in a bad situation, and uncover the irony and absurdity of life.
This will help improve your mood and the mood of those around you. - Surround yourself with reminders to lighten up. Keep a toy on
your desk or in your car. Put up a funny poster in your office. Choose a
computer screensaver that makes you laugh. Frame photos of you and your
family or friends having fun. - Keep things in perspective. Many things in
life are beyond your control—particularly the behavior of other people.
While you might think taking the weight of the world on your shoulders is
admirable, in the long run it’s unrealistic, unproductive, unhealthy, and
even egotistical. - Deal with your stress. Stress is a
major impediment to humor and laughter. - Pay attention to children and emulate them. They are the
experts on playing, taking life lightly, and laughing.
The
ability to laugh, play, and have fun with others not only makes life more
enjoyable but also helps you solve problems, connect with others, and be more
creative. People who incorporate humor and play into their daily lives find
that it renews them and all of their relationships.
ability to laugh, play, and have fun with others not only makes life more
enjoyable but also helps you solve problems, connect with others, and be more
creative. People who incorporate humor and play into their daily lives find
that it renews them and all of their relationships.
Life
brings challenges that can either get the best of you or become playthings for
your imagination. When you “become the problem” and take yourself too seriously,
it can be hard to think outside the box and find new solutions. But when you
play with the problem, you can often transform it into an opportunity for
creative learning.
brings challenges that can either get the best of you or become playthings for
your imagination. When you “become the problem” and take yourself too seriously,
it can be hard to think outside the box and find new solutions. But when you
play with the problem, you can often transform it into an opportunity for
creative learning.
Playing
with problems seems to come naturally to children. When they are confused or
afraid, they make their problems into a game, giving them a sense of control
and an opportunity to experiment with new solutions. Interacting with others in
playful ways helps you retain this creative ability.
with problems seems to come naturally to children. When they are confused or
afraid, they make their problems into a game, giving them a sense of control
and an opportunity to experiment with new solutions. Interacting with others in
playful ways helps you retain this creative ability.
Here
are two examples of people who took everyday problems and turned them around
through laughter and play:
are two examples of people who took everyday problems and turned them around
through laughter and play:
Roy, a
semi-retired businessman, was excited to finally have time to devote to golf,
his favorite sport. But the more he played, the less he enjoyed himself.
Although his game had improved dramatically, he got angry with himself over
every mistake. Roy wisely realized that his golfing buddies affected his
attitude, so he stopped playing with people who took the game too seriously.
When he played with friends who focused more on having fun than on their
scores, he was less critical of himself. Now golfing was as enjoyable as Roy
hoped it would be. He scored better without working harder. And the brighter
outlook he was getting from his companions and the game spread to other parts
of his life, including his work.
semi-retired businessman, was excited to finally have time to devote to golf,
his favorite sport. But the more he played, the less he enjoyed himself.
Although his game had improved dramatically, he got angry with himself over
every mistake. Roy wisely realized that his golfing buddies affected his
attitude, so he stopped playing with people who took the game too seriously.
When he played with friends who focused more on having fun than on their
scores, he was less critical of himself. Now golfing was as enjoyable as Roy
hoped it would be. He scored better without working harder. And the brighter
outlook he was getting from his companions and the game spread to other parts
of his life, including his work.
Jane worked at home designing greeting cards,
a job she used to love but now felt had become routine. Two little girls who
loved to draw and paint lived next door. Eventually, Jane invited the girls in
to play with all the art supplies she had. At first, she just watched, but in
time she joined in. Laughing, coloring, and playing pretend with the little
girls transformed Jane’s life. Not only did playing with them end her
loneliness and mild boredom, it sparked her imagination and helped her artwork
flourish. Best of all, it rekindled the playfulness and spark in Jane’s
relationship with her husband.
a job she used to love but now felt had become routine. Two little girls who
loved to draw and paint lived next door. Eventually, Jane invited the girls in
to play with all the art supplies she had. At first, she just watched, but in
time she joined in. Laughing, coloring, and playing pretend with the little
girls transformed Jane’s life. Not only did playing with them end her
loneliness and mild boredom, it sparked her imagination and helped her artwork
flourish. Best of all, it rekindled the playfulness and spark in Jane’s
relationship with her husband.
As
laughter, humor, and play become an integrated part of your life, your
creativity will flourish and new discoveries for playing with friends,
coworkers, acquaintances, and loved ones will occur to you daily. Humor takes
you to a higher place where you can view the world from a more relaxed,
positive, creative, joyful, and balanced perspective.
laughter, humor, and play become an integrated part of your life, your
creativity will flourish and new discoveries for playing with friends,
coworkers, acquaintances, and loved ones will occur to you daily. Humor takes
you to a higher place where you can view the world from a more relaxed,
positive, creative, joyful, and balanced perspective.
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