The physical and mental benefits of laughter have been known throughout the ages. It was mentioned in the bible in Proverbs 17:22, ‘A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones‘.
Stress related diseases have reached epidemic proportions, so it is no wonder that there is a renewed interest in laughter as therapy.
- A good belly laugh helps to reduce the stress hormone cortisol and increase the release of endorphins that make us feel good.
- A really good belly laugh helps to stimulate the organs. It gets the blood and energy flowing throughout your body.
- Laughter helps to ease physical pain by causing the body to produce its own natural pain killers and cleanses us of emotional pain by assisting in a physical release.
So when you are having a tough day and feel the weight of the world on your shoulders and life just seems too serious…
- Rent a silly comedy. The sillier the better.
- Have a contest with a friend. Face each other and make funny faces and whoever laughs first, wins.
- Have a joke telling party.
Don’t worry if it doesn’t come easily. Studies show that a forced fake laugh brings you the same physical benefits. So start there. Fake laugh until you begin to really laugh at how silly you are.
I’ll leave you with this to get you started: I went to the mall to buy some camouflage pants, but I couldn’t find any.
Photo: Microsoft Clipart
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