Laugh Your Way to Good Health

It boosts immunity, lowers stress hormones, decreases pain, relaxes muscles, and prevents heart diseases.  It also relieves stress, improves moods, enhances resilience, eases anxiety and fear, and adds zest to life.  Aside from that, it can also strengthen relationships, enhance teamwork, help defuse conflict, and promote group bonding.  Lest you think that pharmaceuticals have manufactured a new super drug for which they could charge exorbitant prices, this “wonder drug” that benefits both physical health and mental health comes at absolutely no cost. Aside from being free, Laughter is the fastest way to bring balance back to your mind and body.

Here are just some of the many reasons why you should have that good hearty LAUGH as often as you can:

• Laughter triggers the release of endorphins.  No, these are not marine animals related to the dolphins. Endorphins are the body’s natural feel-good chemicals which promote an overall sense of well-being and which can also temporarily relieve pain.
• Laughter decreases stress hormones and boosts the immune system improving your resistance to diseases.
• Laughter relieves physical tension and stress.  It relaxes the whole body for up to three-fourths of an hour after a good hearty laugh.
• Laughter protects the heart by improving the function of blood vessels and increasing blood flow.  This can protect you against heart attacks and other cardiovascular ailments.

Propensity for laughter is one of the main strengths a person can possess.  Yet stress and other problems often curtail genial disposition. Incorporate humor and fun into your life by doing the following:

• Smiling. It’s as contagious as laughter and is bound to lead to the latter.  Practice smiling whenever you see something pleasing.
• Spending time with fun people.  As mentioned before, laughter is contagious.  Being in the company of people who find humor in ordinary events that happen every day is a surefire way of developing your own sense of humor.
• Goofing around with children.  Children have a perpetual supply of laughter.  They are easily amused and amazed by everything around them.  You’re bound to learn a thing or two about happiness from them.
• Laughing at yourself. The best way to take yourself less seriously is talk about times when you took yourself too seriously.

Problems, stress, pain and sickness are all part and parcel of life.  The choice on how to deal with them is yours to take.  Keep in mind though that all you may ever need to do is have a good laugh.