Laughter: Why You Should Laugh More Often
I can’t go as far as saying laughter is the best medicine, but it’s up there. We have weight lifting, a solid diet, and your nightly sabbatical representing tier one, but a good knee-slapper isn’t to sneeze at. The seriousness of life can bog you down and you may forget to laugh. Call this a reminder or maybe an eye opener accompanied by some memes that’ll spark a grin or two. Now onto why laughter should be an adhesive part of your pursuit of happiness.
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Benefits Of Laughing
If the fun factor isn’t enough, laughter has a few tangible properties I'm sure you wouldn’t mind getting cozy with. I’m not saying neglect your responsibilities along the road to success for a life in the clown show, but I am saying your degree of happiness and joy can receive a boost from a little uncontrolled smiling.
Laughing is good for you, for laughter elicits an endorphin release.
Endorphins are polypeptides coming from your nervous system that activate opiate receptors spreading that euphoric, everything feels good sensation you affiliate with after a nice hand clapping laugh. Two slots on the Mount Rushmore of ways to release endorphins are filled by lifting weights and laughing out loud.
Wait! There’s more.
Shortly after the euphoric wave, that causes a rise in heart rate and blood pressure, the rumblings dissipate to a sense of relief. Your blood pressure lowers and muscles relax for up to 45 minutes [1]. That’s what we call stress relief. This effect reduces cortisol, which is a hormone and when excreted in excess causes health debilitating anxiety and stress.
Improve your mood with a good laugh and take Advantage of the opportunity to connect with other people. The darkest of souls can’t help, but want to get in on a chuckle session.
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How To Laugh More Often
So how is it done? How do you laugh more often?
If You’ve been going through day after day with seriousness and maybe some sorrow.. How do you insert comic relief?
According to Oxford, the meaning of laughter is to: make the spontaneous sounds and movements of the face and body that are the instinctive expressions of lively amusement [2].
Lively amusement starts internally.
It’s possible to take your problems seriously and handle your responsibilities without taking YOURSELF so seriously.
You can pat your head while rubbing your belly.. I think.
It’s other than fun to be around those that can’t take a joke since they're always offended or because they have no desire to look for the humor of a predicament, but forget others.
If that person is you I’m adamant that a change would improve YOUR life, most importantly, then the runoff benefit is experienced by those in proximity.
So don’t take yourself too seriously, be able to laugh at the irony in life. Be able to laugh at a clumsy mistake you make whether alone or surrounded by the House of Representatives. Even gather the ability to laugh at things you disagree with.
Being able to turn humor on yourself is an attractive quality and exudes confidence, something you know is a must if you’ve read the man rules, but that certainly isn’t gender specific.
If you struggle with finding humor try something like an improv class or study it at YouTube university.. I’ve come across a few good professors there.
That’s the inside.
Once you have the mentality to find humor some outside sources of the funny are good to have.
Movies, shows, stand up comedy specials, YouTube videos, certain social media accounts, memes, podcasts, and even some talk radio.
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Sources Of Humor
Here are a few sources of humor that I’ve enjoyed at some point in my life, maybe you will too. At one moment or another each answered the “Make me laugh” bell.
Movies:
Waterboy
Nutty Professor
Scary Movie
Scary Movie 2
Don’t Be A Menace To South Central While Drinking Your Juice In The Hood
Cb4
Austin Powers
Not Another Teen Movie
Blankman
Life
Anchorman
Talladega Nights
Meet The Parents
Fun With Dick And Jane
40 Year Old Virgin
The Lego Movie
Team America: World Police
Shows:
Boondocks
Black Dynamite
Wife Swap
The Simpsons
Family Guy
Fresh Prince
Cosby Show
American Dad
South Park
NBA On TNT
Stand Up Comedians:
Dave Chapelle
Bill Burr
Jerrod Carmichael
Kevin Hart
Podcasts:
Brilliant Idiots
Joe Budden
Adam Carolla
Note: A number of these I saw as a kid, so don’t verbally assault me if they happen to not hold up 😆.
Another Note: I make a distinction between content I liked or was entertained by and what got a laugh out of me. I listed what I can recall stole a laugh.
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My Thoughts
Tickling your funny bone is such a natural booster that somebody invented laughter yoga.
I’d never heard of such a thing before this column, but I do recall on an episode of Wife Swap the couple paid their bills by being professional laughers.. do with that what you will.
Just don’t laugh at the wrong time like when you forgot to brush your tongue or when you just pissed your significant other off and they trip over the table leg.. hold that grin in champ.
The bottom line is your happiness is in your hands - make it so.
Now miscellaneous memes.
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So, It’s About That Time
To laugh is to live and to find joy. We only get one confirmed crack at this life thing, so make sure you’re cracking up. Do the work and have fun during the process. Make that your mantra and you’ll have no trouble putting those muscles to use, cheek ones included. Be Great.
Sources:
[1] richmond.com/life/health/article_1db0eb92-5d13-11e2-891b-001a4bcf6878.html