Some of the health benefits include:
- Physical benefits of laughter result in a boost to your immunity; laughter lowers stress hormones, decreases pain, relaxes the muscles, and prevents heart disease
- Mental health benefits include adding joy and zest for life; laughter eases anxiety
- and tension, relieves stress, improves mood, and strengthens resilience
- Social benefits include strengthening relationships; laughter attracts us to others, enhances teamwork, helps diffuse conflict, and promotes group bonding.
Of course, we all have different things we find funny and we all have different styles of humor. Maybe you’re not a stand-up comedian, but anyone can learn a couple of jokes to share as a way of connecting or lightening the mood.
Spend time watching or reading something that tickles your funny bone, or share a crazy or embarrassing story with your friends or co-workers (this is a fast track to bonding because we all have a silly story or two).
Just like any skill, we need to be intentional in our practice. So, your challenge, if you choose to accept it, is to find the funny. It’s there waiting to make you laugh!