The benefits of laughter and its importance for a person.
The benefits of laughter for a person are really very significant. It has a positive effect on our mental and physical health. I recommend everyone to learn to laugh heartily. Don’t be afraid to show your emotions and enjoy life. It doesn’t matter if you have a fake laugh or a real one, you get the benefit anyway. Many people, when they imitate laughter, then start laughing for real. After that, they feel much better. They say they become less stressed and less tired.
How many times have you laughed today?
Typically, an adult laughs 17 times a day, while a child laughs 400 times. Why do children laugh so much? They are not afraid to seem stupid, and everything that they see around them pleases them. I often hear the expression: “We never grow up, we just learn to act in public.” There is a deal of truth in it. So let your inner child show up as often as possible.
Why are we laughing?
Laughter appeared at a time when the first people began to walk on the earth. Presumably over 10 million years ago. Research has shown that monkeys and chimpanzees can laugh as well. We’ve all seen them do it in various films and TV shows. We sometimes think that even our pets can laugh. And the fact that laughter appeared so long ago suggests that it is an important part of a normal lifestyle.
The health benefits of laughter
There is strong evidence that laughter can actually improve health. We have all heard the saying: “laughter is the best medicine for all diseases.” And in some cases, it really helps fight disease.
- It lowers blood pressure;
- Increases the level of oxygen in the blood;
- Laughter reduces the amount of inflammation in the body;
- Stimulates the immune system;
- Reduces the level of stress hormones while increasing the level of endorphins.
Have you ever laughed to the point where your stomach started to hurt? I think yes. So, laughter makes the muscles of the diaphragm and abdominal cavity work. Contracting and relaxing these muscles makes us more relaxed and strengthens our heart. So, laughter has a positive effect on our physical health.
What is humor therapy?
It is a term for a process that produces therapeutic effects using laughter. Humor therapy dates back to the 14th century, when the French surgeon Henri de Mondeville invited his patients and told them jokes to help them recover from surgery. Norman Cousins popularized humor therapy in 1979 when he published his book Anatomy of a Disease. He argued that ten minutes of laughter could provide two hours of pain relief.
The influence of humor on chronically ill people was shown in the popular film Patch Adams. The film is based on the real story of Dr. Adams, who argued that humor is the best medicine, and the benefits of laughter for a person are simply invaluable. Patch Adams struggled a lot to gain recognition for his beliefs. And today, many American hospitals are introducing humor centers to treat patients.
The mental health benefits of laughter
It has been proven time and again that laughter improves our mental and physical health. So negative emotions such as anger, fear and sadness, which negatively affect our health, need to be replaced with humor. Laughter is one of my favorite stress management techniques. When you have a really bad day, you can find a secluded spot and laugh, loud or quiet, depending on where you are. And do this until you feel better.
This technique can work even before you experience stress. Let’s say you need to do something that you know will cause stress in your business or personal life. Just take a couple of minutes to laugh before getting into this stressful situation. Start off with a fake laugh, it usually develops into a real one. Or think of a funny situation that lifts your spirits and makes you laugh.
The social benefits of laughter
We all need to be sociable and interact with other people. Laughter, according to sociologists, helps to strengthen bonds with your acquaintances, friends and loved ones. It can dispel embarrassing situations, relieve stress, and improve interpersonal relationships. He is able to break down barriers between people.
If you’re meeting someone for the first time, putting together a group for a meeting, or giving a presentation, try adding some humor in the first few minutes. Say something funny about your situation or your meeting. Jokes or funny words can make people you know feel so much better. Humor helps to form social bonds when we tell something about ourselves and share something interesting.
How to bring more laughter into your life
If you laugh a little, you just need to add more humor to your life. Now there are various “laughter clubs” in which you can have fun and get positive emotions. Find more opportunities for jokes and humor throughout the day. Don’t expect situations that will make you laugh, but create them yourself. Think more about fun things during the day. Instead of thinking about your problems, remember something fun and exciting.
Start exaggerating your laugh. When someone says something funny, don’t just smile or giggle, but laugh out loud. Laughter is contagious and everyone around you will laugh even more. Plus, the person who said the funny thing will feel significant enough. When you meet with friends and chat, instead of complaining about life, remember a funny story and tell it to your friends.
The benefits of laughter for the people around you
Humor not only improves our emotional state and social skills, but it can also help other people. Don’t be selfish by keeping all the laughter in yourself. Let everyone know about the benefits of laughter. You can use it to cheer up everyone around you. You can reduce their stress levels and even improve their quality of life. So feel free to show your emotions and laugh sincerely.