The Power of Laughter
“Tickle me! Tickle meeee!....Ahahaaaaa-te-heheheHEHEEE,” she roars as my ten digits dance around her neck and belly. I can’t help but to grin ear to ear as the air fills with my niece's loud chuckles. Laughter. Is. The. Best. Medicine.There is a lot of truth in that statement. With the constant woes of life, laughter can spark hope during times of pain, make your load feel lighter when you are stressed, and keep you grounded throughout each daily struggle. It is the calm during the storm. Laughing is contagious but not in a bad way like a cold or the flu; yet rather, in a good way as it connects us to others like little else can. Regular laughter enhances our relationships and helps restore life energy. A good laugh is the key to happiness, as it brings your mind and body to a place of peace and balance during times of adversity. Laughter as medicine, can be compared to nothing else. It has great benefits for your overall health which makes it MY #1 MEDICINE worth dosing daily!
Here’s how Laughter has proven to be a powerful tool to better health!
Physical Health Benefits of Laughter
- Increases immune response and infection fighting antibodies
- Releases physical tension which relaxes the muscles
- Prevents heart disease by increasing blood flow
- Decreases stress hormones
- Increases endorphins which reduces pain responses
Mental Health Benefits of Laughter
- Increases happiness and life energy
- Reduces stress, anxiety, and fear by causing the brain to release the happy chemical
- Improves overall mood
- Encourages positive thought
- Enhances self-efficacy
Emotional Benefits of Laughter
- Helps maintain a positive outlook on life’s trials
- Strengthens and instills courage
- Encourages a smile through the sound of laughing
- Gives hope and purpose
- Enhances feelings of feeling free of baggage and stress
Social Benefits of Laughter
- Increases ability for individuals to work together as a group or team
- Improves relationships
- Draws others to you
- Helps lessen problems or conflicts
- Encourages a less “serious” approach to others
Laughter is a great medicine to try if you are looking for various mental, physical, social, and emotional changes. And though a good chuckle can come naturally, cultivating opportunities that encourage humor and fun with a lot of laughter can help you achieve the greatest benefits of laughter.
Here is a list of ideas to get you started.
- Play a game with your friends
- Try something you would not normally do: zip-lining, square dancing, juggling
- Sing your heart out in the shower or car
- Watch a funny movie or show
- Play with a pet
- Play an innocent prank. Whoopie cushions still exist
- Goof off with friends and family
- Try out a new accent for a day
- Play a clean round of truth or dare
- Read a funny book or comic
- Do something for fun. Go bowling, play miniature golf, visit a wax museum
- Dance like no one is watching
- Play make-believe with a child
- Reminisce about childhood memories with a sibling or parent
- Do something silly. Stop, Drop and Roll for no reason
- Think about something that makes you laugh
- Tell a joke
- Write a funny poem
