Laughter is something you feel deep in your soul, a happiness that nothing can match. “I believe that if people can get more laughter in their lives, they are a lot better off,” said psychologist Steve Wilson.
Most people believe that a good giggle can relieve you of a mental burden, but it can actually benefit your body on a physical level as well. A recent study at Loma Linda University found that people exposed to more humor had a better recall memory and exhibited lower levels of cortisol, which is a stress inducing hormone. Laughing can also kick start your circulation and tend to muscle relaxation, which allows your body to release built up tension. The increase blood flow can also help protect your heart from complications. Laughing also arouses your organs, releasing endorphins that will bring a big smile to your face. A natural painkiller, you could say.
There’s a reason why people who laugh are also the ones that tend to live longer. Doing so actually boosts your immune system through producing antibodies that fight infection. Living in a positive light allows you to see more of the good in life, which triggers optimistic thinking and a more lighthearted demeanor (you can burn calories, too!). No one enjoys being around a ‘Debbie Downer’, so learning to laugh more and often will bring about more social interaction. Don’t give up an opportunity to laugh; it’s the only medicine in life that comes free.
