Humor and laughter are powerful emotional medicines that can lower stress, dissolve anger and unite people in troubled times. Experts (like me?) claim that laughter is equivalent to “internal jogging!” Would you believe that one minute of laughter is equal to 10 minutes on the rowing machine, according to Stanford University Medical School? Laughter can provide good cardiac (beat-beats), abdominal (gut-gut), facial and back muscle (core) conditioning! This is especially for those of you (oh, so many) who do not perform regular physical exercise.
Humor and laughter are amazingly powerful emotional medicines with no pills needed! They lower stress, dissolve anger and unite you with others in troubled times. I am certain that many of you have experienced how your mood is elevated by finding humor in difficult and frustrating situations. One of the best, of course you all know, is laughing at ourselves!
This is especially true when the situations we are in are not the earthshaking events they seem to be. Humor and laughter can avoid loneliness by connecting with others who are attracted to genuine joyfulness.
Now, for some suggestions for how to expand your sense of humor: Look for just everyday humor. You know, the absurd and silly events that go on around you each day! … Experience infants and young children when they first learn to find delight and amusement in ordinary things … Increase your exposure to comedies, comic sitcoms, joke books, comedy clubs and of course, my weekly column! … Hang out with funny friends! … If you hear or read a funny joke, write it down and share it with someone else! … Remind yourself to have fun! … Spend time with those people who help you see the bright side of life … Avoid negative people! Avoid news, situations, conversations, etc. that frightens or upsets you, or makes you sad and unhappy … And best of all, be mindful of just “lightening up!”
Aloha my friends. Be happy … don’t worry.