SELF CARE

How and Why You Should Raise Your Laugh Quota

Did you find your ‘funny’ today?

Could it be that adults put away crucial playfulness and good honest-to-goodness guffawing on purpose? Well, now’s the perfect time for adults to add some simple science-backed discipline into their adulting and purposefully reconnect to their playful side to allow themselves a good honest-to-goodness belly laugh.

Make room for some hearty guffawing

A long time ago I read an article that said that adults don’t laugh enough; that they’ve forgotten how to. And I remember precisely how the article mentioned making the comparison between adults and four-year-olds. I remember that so well because at the time I had my own four-year-old on whom to test the theory.

It was true. My four-year-old, a perpetually happy child, laughed delightfully with his whole body the entire day. It was contagious. I got the giggles with him often, chiming in with his joie de vivre, and when I lacked comprehension of the hilarity, I politely contorted my face in a big silly smile to acknowledge his enthusiasm.

And very often, at night, when I heard him laughing in his sleep, I too fell asleep with a grin.

“Urban myth: Children laugh 300 to 400 times a day and adults only 17.5.” — https://www.laughteronlineuniversity.com/children-laughter-frequency/

Is it just a myth? A joke? Regardless, this is one joke that just ain’t funny. Sure the gap between the responsibilities of the two subjects is obvious but wouldn’t you agree that the gap between the frequency of the numbers is a little too sad?

Adults are too busy or too cynical or too grumpy, Psychology Today tells us. Golly! That is even sadder.

“Yet simple laughter can make life feel more manageable by masking pain, sharpening your ability to remember things, and alleviating the pressures of the day-to-day grind.” — The Benefits of Laughter, Psychology Today

I say it’s time we started laughing more.

A simple thing like laughter can do wonders

Comedian Steve Martin reportedly laughs for five minutes in front of his mirror every morning.

“I laugh to get my creative juices flowing and to start my day on a high note.” — Steve Martin

And today, Steve Martin is an accomplished American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and musician who’s living his best life.

And people, the bottom line here is that even a fake laugh will do.

I’ve read about how in some clinics laughter therapy has been used to cure illnesses and in some cases to even heal serious ailments. A simple thing like laughter can do that? I’d like to believe that we can all tap into such therapy and benefit from it as well. Why not give it a try?

“We don’t laugh because we are happy. We are happy because we laugh.” — William James, the father of modern psychology.

In past articles, I’ve alluded to the fact that I don’t have a funny bone in my body. But because of that, - I love to look for every chance to laugh about something. - It’s my purpose, every day. - And more times than not, I find something to laugh about. - Being in partnership with my spouse has been beneficial to me as it was my husband who introduced me to such an idea. - It’s one that has served us well.

Let’s revisit the benefits of a good hearty laugh

1. Laughter is a potent endorphin-releaser

Laughter has been shown to elevate mood, promote creativity, and bring about a boost of energy in humans, via opioid receptors. Yes, these are the same receptors that keep addicts chasing a high.

2. Laughter has the contagious power of a virus.

This one is probably a benefit that needs no scientific evidence as in one way or another, we’ve most likely tested this one ourselves. Being in a situation where you hear someone guffawing with gusto is likely to make you laugh as well, even if you have no idea why the laugher is laughing.

3. Laughter unites and strengthens relationships

If a testimonial from me will suffice, let me just tell you that my husband and I will be celebrating our thirtieth anniversary next month. We’ve had our disagreements and moments of anxiety, but the good man has made me laugh for over thirty years now. So, I’d advise you to make laughter a priority when considering starting a relationship.

4. Laughing triggers a burst of brain activity

Serotonin, depression, and quality of life (QOL) were put to the test in this study. I invite you to read the two paragraphs in the above link on the findings to back up this claim. This study was done on middle-aged women to perform a path analysis for verification of the effects.

5. Laughter protects your heart

How and why laughter triggers an anti-inflammatory effect that protects blood vessels and heart muscles from the damaging impacts of cardiovascular disease isn’t entirely understood yet. But it does. One protective benefit is that it seems related to lessening the body’s stress response, which is directly linked to increased inflammation. For now, laugh it up, please.

Here are some easy suggestions on how to get started

You like the Three Stooges or Charlie Chaplin; cartoons, or bloopers; baby-animals or human babies antics? Memes? Don’t be afraid to collect a few of those to keep in your arsenal for when you need them. And don’t be shy to dip into them on purpose when you have a few free moments in the course of your day.

The more you dip into your collection the sooner you’ll notice how you start to feel happier. The awareness of tapping into humor will make you begin to see the lighter side of things and this, in turn, will impact your stress level in all your creative and professional pursuits. A simple discipline like this will elevate you to a whole new realm of mindful living and it will help reduce anxiety and stress that comes from fulfilling adult obligations.

Make it a habit. Purposefully reconnect to your playful side and allow yourself a good honest-to-goodness belly laugh.

Let’s laugh more. The Free Giphy link for you. Go ahead, click to choose your own.

THANKS FOR READING I Wish You Miracles