Learn how laughter builds resiliency to stress and disease, strengthens muscle and builds lung capacity — as well as how to cultivate it into your daily life. Ever feel that you are disconnected, like your mind is saying one thing and your body another? One way to get our bodies and minds to work in harmony is to laugh more often. Most health routines are promoting focused attention on physical health as well as our mental and spiritual health to include what is referred to as a mind-body connection or whole-body health.
The book "Compassionate Laughter-Jest for Life" by Patty Wooten states that to become whole means to balance our physical body, our thoughts and our spiritual awareness. Humor can help make us whole again. Humor can stimulate healing in our physical body, bring peace to our emotions and strengthen our will to live. Mirthful laughter laughter at what we consider to be truly funny has been proven to have a profound effect on the body, mind and spirit.
Instead of complaining about life's frustrations, try to laugh about them. If something is so frustrating or depressing it's ridiculous, realize that you could 'look back on it and laugh.
With this attitude, you may also find yourself being more lighthearted and silly, giving yourself and those around you more to laugh about. Approach life in a more mirthful way and you'll find you're less stressed about negative events. Just as studies show the positive effects of smiling occur whether the smile is fake or real , faked laughter also provides the benefits mentioned above.
The body can't distinguish between 'fake' laughter that you just start doing on purpose and 'real' laughter that comes from true humor. The physical benefits are exactly the same, and the former usually leads to the latter anyway. So smile more, and fake laughter; you'll still achieve positive effects, and the fake merriment may lead to real smiles and laughter.
There's no shortage of laughter opportunities from entertainment, both at the theater as well as at home with streaming movies and T. While wasting your time watching something marginally funny may actually frustrate you, watching truly hilarious movies and shows is an easy way to get laughter into your life whenever you need it.
You may want to share your recommendations with friends and you'll have something to reference and laugh about together. Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. Front Psychol. Humor, laughter, learning, and health! A brief review. Adv Physiol Educ. Skinner N, Brewer N. The dynamics of threat and challenge appraisals prior to stressful achievement events. J Pers Soc Psychol. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellMind.
Lopes-Junior LC, et al. Effectiveness of hospital clowns for symptom management in paediatrics: Systematic review of randomized and non-randomised controlled trials. Seaward BL. Comic relief: The healing power of humor. In: Essentials of Managing Stress. Van der Wal CN, et al. Laughter-inducing therapies: Systematic review and meta-analysis. See also 3 simple strategies to help you focus and de-stress 3 ways to become more stress resilient 3 ways to learn patience and amp up your well-being 4 proven ways you can feel happier 5 ways to bring play back into your life A Very Happy Brain Adapt to put stress in its place Anger management: Your questions answered Are your holidays a dietary free-for-all?
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These two doctors have researched the benefits of laughter and found amazing results. Get ready to get your giggle on! People who lower their blood pressure, even those who start at normal levels, will reduce their risk of stroke and heart attack. So grab the Sunday paper, flip to the funny pages, and enjoy your laughter medicine. By reducing the level of stress hormones, you're simultaneously cutting the anxiety and stress that impacts your body.
Additionally, the reduction of stress hormones may result in higher immune system performance. Just think: Laughing along as a co-worker tells a funny joke can relieve some of the day's stress and help you reap the health benefits of laughter. One of the benefits of laughter is that it can help you tone your abs.
When you are laughing, the muscles in your stomach expand and contract, similar to when you intentionally exercise your abs.
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