The Hidden Power of Laughing

If you often find yourself in the midst of a good chortle, giggle or even belly laugh, well, good for you! Seriously, laughing is really good for you. Studies have shown that laughter has numerous health benefits for us all and can be very healing. For instance, when we laugh, we are activating the body’s natural relaxation response. It’s similar to jogging, only internally. A good belly laugh massages our internal organs and tones our abdominal muscles. It lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones and increases circulation of antibodies in the blood stream, making us more resistant to infection. And that’s not all. Here are even more reasons to add laughter into our day:

• Combats depression. Laughing is a wonderful way to step outside the downward spiral to depression. Unhappiness can become a mindset pattern if we don’t sometimes step outside of ourselves. Even forced laughter releases hormones, neuropeptides and dopamine, all of which improve your mood.
• Relieves pain. Laughter won’t take away pain, but those who laugh admit they are less bothered by the pain they do experience. In other words, the amount of pain remains the same, but your perceived pain level declines, leaving you with a belief that you can cope. In fact, 14^th-century French surgeon Henri de Mondeville used humor to distract patients from the pain of surgery and to help them during recovery. 
• Helps you stay mentally healthy. Laughter makes you feel good, and this feeling stays with you even after the giggles subside. It stops distressing hormones, making it hard to feel anxious or sad when you’re laughing. It reduces stress and increases energy, and it draws you closer to others. This alone can have a profound effect on all aspects of your mental and emotional well-being. Even a simple smile can go a long way in making you feel better.  
• Does good for the heart. The American Heart Association recommends laughter for a healthy heart. Research has shown laughter promotes reduced artery inflammation and increased production of HDL or “good” cholesterol.
• Calms stress hormones. Laughing stimulates multiple physiological systems that decrease levels of stress hormones, such as cortisol and epinephrine, and increases activation of the dopamine-dispensing reward system of the brain (according to a 2017 study in Advances in Physiology Education).
• Lightens anger’s heavy load. Laughter is a powerful tool for managing conflict. A shared laugh can diffuse anger and conflict fast. It helps you put problems into perspective and enables you to move on from confrontations, leaving resentment and disgruntled feelings in the past.
• Enhances spiritual well-being. When you choose positivity and laughter, it teaches you to choose to live and be at peace with others, with yourself and with your environment. It also helps you build resistance to stress and find meaning in life.
• May help you live longer. According to a study in Norway, people with a strong sense of humor outlived those who didn’t laugh as much.
• Increases blood oxygenation. Laughing causes us to use our respiratory system very quickly and strenuously for a short amount of time. This stimulates an increase in blood flow as the heart rate temporarily increases, thus increasing the amount of oxygen flowing to the brain. All this promotes healthier brain function since oxygen is integral to brain health.
• Promotes creativity. Because laughter has so many effects on the chemical processes in the body, the combined result is enhanced creativity in those who laugh often.

With so many wonderful benefits to enjoy, you will definitely want to jump on the laughter train now! Here are some great ways to spark the giggles in your life:

• Say, “Cheese!” Smiling is the beginning of laughter, and it’s contagious. So when you see something funny or even mildly entertaining, practice smiling. Put your phone away and look at people. Smile at the passerby on the street, your coworkers or the local barista. Flash those pearly whites everywhere you go and notice the effect it has on people.
• Make a grateful list. This helps keep negative thoughts away. The act of simply considering the positive aspects of your life will invite the humor and laughter you seek.
• Gravitate toward laughter. When you hear it, join it. People are very happy to share something funny because they enjoy hearing you laugh, and they feed off the humor you find in it. So when you hear laughter, find out what’s so funny.
• Spend time with people who like to have fun. These are the people who laugh easily—both at themselves and at life’s absurdities. They always find the humor in everyday events. And it’s contagious.
• Invite humor into conversations. Ask people to share the funniest thing that happened to them that day or week. But know what isn’t funny. Laughing at the expense of others isn’t. Always laugh with—not at—people.
• Make humor a priority by watching a comedy you enjoy, reading a funny book or listening to your favorite comedian.
• Find your inner child. Hang around with children and try to emulate them. They are experts on laughing freely and taking life lightly.
• Remind yourself to lighten up. Surround yourself with reminders, such as a funny toy you keep in your car or a silly screensaver that’s sure to make you smile each time you look at it.
• Keep a journal. Write down all of the funny things that happen each day. Then on days when you’re feeling down, you can open your journal and smile at all of the great memories.

Life is funny. It really is—so go ahead and laugh! The ability to laugh at yourself makes others want to be around you and can help relieve your own stress. Focus on finding the laughable moments in your day, and then increase the power of laughter by sharing it with a friend.        

Finding Opportunities to Laugh!

• Watch a funny TV show, movie or a favorite comedian.
• Seek out funny people to hang around with.
• Check out humorous books at the library or bookstore.
• Host a game night with friends.
• Make time for fun activities with friends and family (e.g., karaoke, comedy club, miniature golf, arcade, etc.).
• Goof around with children.
• Play with a pet.
• Check out a laughter yoga class. (Yes, it’s a thing.)

  Kansas City mom and author Gina Klein cannot live without laughter. Her secret? Allowing her inner child to blossom every day.