laughter.

The stress management benefits of laughter...I know I usually feel better after laughing at a difficult situation or finding a way to see the silly in an otherwise too serious circumstance.  I wondered about the health benefits of laughter and found a wide array of information here on the internet.  I discovered that you can go to a laughter yoga class...you can hire a laughter coach...and there are personal laughter advocates...

This is my favorite article on laughter, good humor, health.

I just want to laugh.  I like laughing...it's more fun to laugh when I'm with my kids and my husband...it's also easier.  Laughing at my ridiculous mistakes also feels better than completely stressing out over them.  Take the last couple of days for instance....

I say the wrong things at the wrong times...it's easier to laugh about that and it makes me feel more human.  Today I received an order that I had been waiting to receive of some envelopes that I wanted for a project I'm working on...I ordered cardstock by accident?  Who does that?!?  Apparently, I do.  After talking about it on the phone with my wonderful studio manager, Jessica, we had a good laugh about it, a little brainstorm, and everything will be just fine.  Laughing at myself helps the stress level to be sure.  I always need more laughing...it's a fun way to get fit! :)

The following comes from about.com.

• Hormones: Laughter reduces the level of stress hormones like cortisol, epinephrine (adrenaline), dopamine and growth hormone. It also increases the level of health-enhancing hormones like endorphins, and neurotransmitters. Laughter increases the number of antibody-producing cells and enhances the effectiveness of T cells. All this means a stronger immune system, as well as fewer physical effects of stress.

   

• Physical Release: Have you ever felt like you "have to laugh or I'll cry"? Have you experienced the cleansed feeling after a good laugh? Laughter provides a physical and emotional release.

   

• Internal Workout: A good belly laugh exercises the diaphragm, contracts the abs and even works out the shoulders, leaving muscles more relaxed afterward. It even provides a good workout for the heart.

   

• Distraction: Laughter brings the focus away from anger, guilt, stress and negative emotions in a more beneficial way than other mere distractions.

   

• Perspective: Studies show that our response to stressful events can be altered by whether we view something as a 'threat' or a 'challenge'. Humor can give us a more lighthearted perspective and help us view events as 'challenges', thereby making them less threatening and more positive.

   

• Social Benefits of Laughter: Laughter connects us with others. Also, laughter is contagious, so if you bring more laughter into your life, you can most likely help others around you to laugh more, and realize these benefits as well. By elevating the mood of those around you, you can reduce their stress levels, and perhaps improve the quality of social interaction you experience with them, reducing your stress level even more!

   

How To Use Laughter:

Laughter is one of my all-time favorite stress management strategies because it's free, convenient, and beneficial in so many ways. You can get more laughter in your life with the following strategies:

• T.V. and Movies: There's no shortage of laughter opportunities from the entertainment, both at the theater and in the aisles of the video stores, as well as at home with T.V. comedies. 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.

   

• Laugh With Friends: Going to a movie or comedy club with friends is a great way to get more laughter in your life. The contagious effects of laughter may mean you'll laugh more than you otherwise would have during the show, plus you'll have jokes to reference at later times. Having friends over for a party or game night is also a great setup for laughter and other good feelings.

   

• Find Humor In Your Life: 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.' Think of how it will sound as a story you could tell to your friends, and then see if you can laugh about it now. 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, and you'll achieve the health benefits of laughter. (See this article on maintaining a sense of humor.

   

• 'Fake It Until You Make It': 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. So smile more, and fake laughter; you'll still achieve positive effects, and the fake merriment may lead to real smiles and laughter.

   

• More on Having Fun: See these additional suggestions on laughing more and having fun in your life.

 Sorry about the title of this video...it really is hilarious...