When was the last time you had a good laugh? Children seem to smile and laugh spontaneously to express happiness, joy and delight. In adulthood, most of us lose that innate ability to laugh spontaneously like a three-year old. Adults laugh less frequently. We learn to control our emotions and are conditioned to conform with social norms. Some people take themselves far too seriously that they forget to laugh. I probably belonged to that group until I realised the benefits of laughter. Adding a dose of laughter to your day can improve every area of your life. It’s no wonder why people look for someone who has a good sense of humor in a potential partner.
Laughter as an antidote
You may have heard this old adage “laughter is the best medicine.” In his classic Best seller, ‘Anatomy of an Illness’, Norman Cousins, diagnosed with a crippling and irreversible disease, claimed that 10 minutes of good belly laughter brought him 2 hours of pain-free sleep. Studies on the potential benefits of laughter are very encouraging. Researchers have found that laughter has the potential to boost the immune system by increasing infection-fighting antibodies.
Laughter improves your mood
People with a sense of humor have a positive outlook. Instead of moaning about the adversity of life, they take a light-hearted approach and see the funny things that arise. They do not take themselves too seriously. A good sense of humor and laughter goes hand in hand. I’m sure you have experienced the overwhelmingly positive emotions from a guffawing that you broke down in tears. Laughter elevates our mood and brings us happiness. You might be interested to read How to Be Happier? for more practical tips to boost your happiness.
Laughter relieves stress
Stress is anything that poses a threat or a challenge to our well-being. Your body reacts to stressful situation by activating the fight or flight response mode. The negative effects of chronic stress are detrimental to our well-being and happiness. Laughter is a powerful antidote in relieving stress. It provides a glimpse of freedom to the subconscious mind and stops us from ruminating about stressful thoughts. According to scientists, the physiological process of laughing tend to reduce the level of stress hormones and relaxes muscle tension in our body.
Laughter strengthens your relationships
Relationships are building blocks to attain true happiness. According to psychologists, having strong ties to friends and family are characteristics of people who appear to be happier. Laughter in a social context is a powerful form of communication. It helps you connect with people. Shared laughter is a great way of cultivating positive feelings in a relationship that fosters emotional connection. The bond created from laughing allows people to express their true feelings and deepens relationships.
Laughter is contagious
We are wired to respond positively to laughter and smile. When we see someone smiles or laughs, we are inclined to smile back. This phenomenon can be explained by the discovery of mirror neurons. These are a group of neurons that activate when we perform an action or when we see an action being performed.
“We are social beings. Our survival depends on our understanding the actions, intentions, and emotions of others. Mirror neurons allow us to understand other people’s mind, not only through conceptual reasoning but through imitation. Feeling, not thinking.”- G.Rizzolatti.
Laughter influences the emotion and feeling of others. Shared laughter creates a positive experience that boosts our happiness.
I hope this article has given you more reasons to laugh. Cultivating a sense of humour is important to your wellbeing. I invite you to share this article with someone who makes you laugh.
