Children laugh about 400 times a day while we adults only manage a total of about 10-15 times. Why is that? Could we do something to change it? When you consider all the benefits, maybe we should give it a try!
Why is laughing healthy?
Do you like to laugh? Often? Seldom? Do you find few excuses to laugh? More to cry?
People who laugh often glide a bit more easily through life. When you laugh, you breathe more deeply than usual, your muscles relax, your heart functions and circulation are stimulated, serotonin is released, and the stress hormones, adrenaline and cortisone are inhibited. These effects are all positive and healthy. One international study shows that laughter even influences athletes’ performances for the better.
It is interesting to note that Eliud Kipchoge, one of the fastest marathon runners and an Olympian champion, always smiles while he’s racing because he knows it will have a positive and relaxing effect on his body, act as a pain reliever and reduce his need for oxygen! Amazing!
For victims of depression, laughter works like medicine, while toxic thinking has a negative effect on body, mind and soul (BLOG). This is not a new thought. Actually, it came from King Solomon, who lived and wrote 3000 years ago! Proverbs 17:22 says, “A merry heart does good like a medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.” VERY SCIENTIFIC!
These days, too many people find themselves on a slide that takes them further and further down into the world of the depressed, and it doesn’t seem to be getting any better. Many people miss out and never really find True Love. So sad.
Can humor be learned?
You may not believe it, but humor trainers actually exist! They teach their clients that although humor is IN, it is often made fun of or seen as childish in our society. Laughing is sometimes even interpreted as a sign of immaturity. Performance is what counts!
Humor trainers try to develop a sense of humor in their clients. Every person actually has a sense of humor. It’s just a little deeper in some and needs to be discovered and developed.
Laughter is an effective anti-depressant
People who laugh a lot feel much better than those who don’t. A person suffering with depression can actually use laughter to “self-medicate”. Of course, a decision is required in order to put this experience into a fun, positive context instead of grooming the same usual negative thoughts.
People who laugh a lot feel much better than those who don’t. A person suffering with depression can actually use laughter to “self-medicate”. Of course, a decision is required in order to put this experience into a fun, positive context instead of grooming the same usual negative thoughts.
The situation is naturally more difficult when in your family, job or other teamwork absolutely no reasons can be found to smile. When pure stress abounds on every side, it will not be enough to just try to control your thoughts. In such cases, one’s inner values, or evaluation system must be worked on via cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). At the same time, it is important to recognize fear and replace it with Love. That may sound easy, but usually cannot be achieved (or is much more difficult) without therapeutic assistance.
Laughing is contagious. Happy and privileged are those who grow up with humor. We should train ourselves to enjoy things that we normally would not smile over. Every smile, whether real or artificial, has a positive impact on our hormone levels. SMILE! :-)
The History of Humor
The doctrine of body fluids, out of which the four temperaments supposedly formed, first developed in ancient Greece. “UMOR” means liquid or juice. A person with “umor” was a person whose four body fluids were thought to be in balance. So,
o the yellow gall referred to the choleric (Choleric-BLOG - optimistic, angry, impulsive, active),
o the black gall designated the melancholy (Melancholy - sad, sober, objective, moody),
o the blood signified the sanguine (Sanguine – happy, sociable, lively, broad-minded) and
o the mucous or phlegm stood for the phlegmatic (Phlegmatic - fearful, thoughtful, peaceable, easy-going).
As you can see, even back then a healthy person had humor! Near the end of the Dark Ages in England, people were referred to as humorists who were not only even-tempered, but who also publicly demonstrated their humor. For this reason they were often laughed at and ridiculed.
Today humor is a highly valued attribute that produces enjoyable and funny moments and feelings for people to share. Jokes and comic strips are means through which many boost their daily average of laughter.
Humor is a characteristic that can help us overcome all kinds of challenges in our daily lives.
Humor and the Future
You have to start early if you want to be a pro!
Don’t forget: Humor can be learned and developed. Is it possible that its importance is on the rise? Computers and digitalization are taking over and changing many jobs. Our media-rich lifestyles are influencing our emotional health. Could those be reasons why certain skills such as creativity, humor and the ability to work in a team are needed more than ever? The future belongs to the humorous :-)
German links: humorin.ch und psychologie.uzh.ch
How did you come up with 'sparrow' as pet name for me?
That cat gained weight again!!!
„You are only allowed to sit here if you order something.“
„Ok, then order your cook a nice greeting .“
Do you have a good joke you would like to share? If so, we would love to read it! It would be great if you would write it below.
How about a few jokes for dessert?
Q: What happens to a frog's car when it breaks down? A: It gets toad away.
Q: What did the duck say when he bought lipstick? A: "Put it on my bill."
A teacher asked her students to use the word "beans" in a sentence. "My father grows beans," said one girl. "My mother cooks beans," said a boy. A third student spoke up, "We are all human beans."
Q: Can a kangaroo jump higher than the Empire State Building? A: Of course. The Empire State Building can't jump.
Instead of "the John," I call my toilet "the Jim." That way it sounds better when I say I go to the Jim first thing every morning.
Why is it that your nose runs, but your feet smell?
Q: What’s the best thing about Switzerland? A: I don't know, but the flag is a big plus.
Q: How do trees access the Internet? A: They log in.
