Make Laughter Part of Your Resolution
Research shows that laughter can help relieve pain, increase immunity and bring more happiness to daily life. We often talk about diet and exercise as part of our New Year’s resolution, but what about adding regular, hearty laughter to the list?
A child is able to laugh between two and four months of age, long before he or she is able to speak. Laughter, like crying, is a way for a preverbal infant to interact with caregivers. At ages five and six, we tend to see the most exuberant laughs. Adults laugh less than children, most likely because they play less, and laughter is associated with play.
Many researchers believe laughter is not so much about humor, but about relationships between people. Laughter is 30 times more likely to happen in a social setting than when people are alone. When we laugh with others we are communicating playful intent and creating a bond between individuals within the group.
Laughter is believed to be contagious — the more someone laughs, the more others around that person laugh. Laughter also has an emotional release aspect — allowing people to let go of negative feelings such as anger, sadness or fear in a harmless way.
Another benefit to laughter is that we tend to learn at a faster pace and retain the information longer, because laughter stimulates both sides of the brain.
Laughter can be a tool for healthy living just like taking a walk or eating nutritious foods. Looking at life’s stressful situations with a sense of humor can help keep things in balance when life seems unfair. While we are working at surviving, laughter can help us maintain perspective.
What We Can Do
One of the best parts about prescribing yourself some doses of laughter is that it is typically inexpensive, you don’t need special clothes or equipment and it can happen anywhere. It may be one of the most convenient stress management programs available.
Finding the funny in life doesn’t just happen, but it is something everyone can work on. Be open to happiness, laughter and fun. Surround yourself with those seeking to find similar happiness in situations.
However, sometimes humor can seem hard to find. The first step to laughing is smiling, so see if you can take this initial step. When you find yourself struggling to smile or laugh in situations that would normally cause you to react in a happy manner, then it is a good idea to speak with your medical professional.
Adopting a joyful attitude can help people cope with life’s struggles and relieve tension. I think Allen Klein from the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor said it best. He said, “Your attitude is like a box of crayons that color the world. Constantly use gray colors, and your picture will always be dark and depressing. Use humor to add bright colors, and your picture begins to lighten up.”
