A Good Laugh? Who Couldn't Use That?
Written by Marci Renée
Iranian Camel Photo by Giuseppe Cantiello on Unsplash
“I was going through my pictures and videos and ran across this one. I thought you could use a good laugh!” my mother wrote to me in a text.
While sitting in the car, I watched the video that my mother had sent me and began laughing hysterically out loud. She had taken it last year while I was visiting for Christmas. It had been a fun family night, and I was relaxed, laughing, and clowning around—dancing, singing, and making silly faces.
Asilahi Man Photo by Aziz Acharki on Unsplash
My mother just happened to catch it all on video, and good thing she did.
Ah, it felt so good! I kept watching the short video clip over and over and laughed just as hard every time. I didn’t want to stop. It was as if I couldn’t get enough laughter!
When was the last time I had laughed? I mean, laughed until tears streamed down my cheeks and my belly ached? It had been such a long time that I couldn’t even remember.
Life was overwhelming and way too serious. It seemed like I didn’t have time to have fun anymore.
“As children, we used to laugh hundreds of times a day, but as adults, life tends to be more serious and laughter more infrequent.”
When I got home with the kids after school, I showed the video to my six-year-old son while he enjoyed his snack. He laughed and laughed—like a hyena! He must have watched that crazy video 20 times! He had to show it to his father and his older brothers.
What is it about laughing? What happens when we laugh—physically and emotionally?
I had never really thought about it, but when I laughed that day, I could actually feel something happen inside of me. There seemed to be a physical and emotional release of pent up stress and energy inside my body and my mind. It’s as if the “serious bottle” inside of me was uncapped and released! It all gushed out like a mighty river, and it was very healing—and freeing!
After having this experience, I thought it would be fun to do some research to find out what really was happening inside of me that felt so good. Was I just imagining it?
Here’s what I found: I’m not crazy! Something does happen physically, emotionally, and mentally when you laugh. There are tons of health benefits to laughter and a good dose of humor.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF LAUGHTER
According to Dr. Jeanne Seagel and other professionals, laughter:
1. Relaxes the entire body, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes.
2. Boosts the immune system. It decreases stress hormones, increases antibodies that help fight infections, and increases immune cells.
3. Releases endorphins, the chemicals that make you “feel good” and can even temporarily relieve pain.
4. Is good for the heart. It increases blood flow and improves blood vessel function, which can protect you from heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems.
5. Burns calories. Studies have shown that 10-15 minutes of laughter can burn approximately 40 calories.
6. Can help you live longer. A study in Norway showed that people with a strong sense of humor, especially those battling cancer, outlived those who didn’t laugh.
Laughter has some healing power!
Briyech Sunset Photo by Aziz Acharki on Unsplash
It’s not just our physical body that benefits from a good dose of hearty laughter, our mind also reaps the benefits. Laughter:
Increases our sense of joy
Eases anxiety and tension
Relieves stress
Improves our mood
Strengthens our resilience
Decreases feelings of anger and resentment
Helps us gain a more positive perspective in difficult situations
There are also social benefits to good laughter:
Strengthens relationships
Attracts others to us
Enhances teamwork & promotes group bonding
Helps diffuse conflict
There are plenty of good reasons to start laughing. Yet, this is one area in my life that I’ve been neglecting.
I’ve been thinking a lot about self-care lately and the importance of taking time for myself and my own needs—not just the needs of others. Adequate sleep and napping, exercise, vacation and rest, healthy eating, meditation and relaxation are all important forms of self-care. These are some of the more obvious ones.
However, it wasn’t until I found myself craving laughter and thoroughly enjoying it over and over again that I realized that laughter, having fun, and enjoying humor is also an important way of caring for myself.
Was life intended to be full of stress and seriousness? Who said that we can’t have some good wholesome fun? Life is hard, and laughter seems to make things a bit lighter.
How can you get started with some laughter therapy?
If laughter doesn’t come naturally and easily for you, here are a few suggestions to get started:
1. Set aside some regular time to seek out humor and laughter—similar to the way that you would set aside time for a hobby or exercise. It may take some effort and intentionality. You could watch a funny movie, go to a comedy club, read the newspaper comics, host a game night, dance and make silly faces, tell some jokes . . .
2. Smile. This is the first step of laughter, and it’s contagious. Intentionally smile at others. Notice how this feels for you and how it affects others.
3. Count your blessings. Make a list of everything you are grateful for. Sometimes negative thoughts can block our sense of humor and laughter. Focusing on the positive aspects of our lives can help to break down these barriers inside of us emotionally and mentally.
4. Move towards laughter when you hear it. Seek it out and ask others, “What’s so funny?” Join in the fun if you can.
5. Spend time with fun, joyful people. Look for people who laugh easily and who find humor in daily life.
6. Bring humor into your conversations. Ask people, “What was the funniest thing that happened to you this week? What is the silliest thing you ever did in public? What was the funniest thing your child has ever said or done?”
Photo by Helena Lopes on Unsplash
Benefits and some of the ideas/suggestions:
“The more we laugh, the lighter and freer we feel. Just think about the last time you enjoyed a good old belly laugh. Didn’t you feel incredible afterward? Laughter really is the best medicine.”
Tonight, I’m going to look for a good family-friendly comedy to watch. (We like Mr. Bean!) I’m going to make some popcorn and maybe even play a game. Then, when I tuck my six-year-old son into bed tonight, I’m going to read him a funny story, tickle him gently, even let him tickle me—until we are both in tears and have a good ‘ole belly ache!
How about you? Could you use a good laugh today?
Works Cited:
https://heartmdinstitute.com/stress-relief/healing-power-laughter
http://www.thelawofattraction.com/the-7-powerful-healing-properties-of-laughter
Guest author, Marci Renée, along with her French husband and four boys, is a global nomad who has traveled to more than 30 countries and has lived in the United States, France, Morocco, and Spain. She loves to travel, speak foreign languages, experience different cultures, eat ethnic foods, meet people from faraway lands, and of course, write and tell stories. She is a published author of children's picture books, memoirs, short stories, and poetry.
You can find Marci and her books on her website.
"The Cultural Story-Weaver," at www.culturalstoryweaver.com