You’ve heard the saying that “laughter is good medicine,” but have you ever considered how this God-given gift has been designed by our creator as a natural form of medicine to heal everything that ails us?
The Bible says in Proverbs 17:22 that “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”
Chuck Swindoll says “Laughter is the most beautiful and beneficial therapy God ever granted humanity.”
There are many health benefits that are associated with laughter. According to a study done in Norway, people with a good sense of humor actually live longer.
Why Laughter Is Good Medicine
The Health Benefits of Laughter include:
- increases blood flow, improving heart health
- releases stress and tension
- releases endorphins, the feel-good hormone
- temporarily relieves pain
- burns calories
- works your abdominal muscles
- boosts your immune system
- improves mood
- relaxes the whole body
- eases anxiety
- diffuses anger
Laughter therapy is now recognized as having therapeutic value for people dealing with chronic illnesses. It is being offered in many hospitals and treatments centers to help reduce pain, decrease stress, boost the immune system and elevate the overall wellbeing of patients.
You don’t have to be chronically ill to benefit from laughter therapy and you don’t need to go to a treatment facility. You can DIY your own laughter therapy for yourself.
Now that you know why “Laughter is Good Medicine”, let’s talk about how we can get more of it.
How to DIY your own Laughter Therapy
- First and foremost: Don’t go a day without laughing. It is another one of those “Healthy Habits” we need to make sure we integrate into our daily lives.
You might also like
- Integrating Healthy Habits Step By Step Into Your Life
- Good Habits List For A Healthier Lifestyle
- How to Choose Joy Even When Life is Hard
- Happiness Challenge: Do More Of What Makes You Happy
2. Learn to laugh at yourself. Don’t take yourself so seriously. If something is challenging you, or if you make a mistake or mess up, spin it a new way and find the humor in the situation.
3. Find the humor in everyday life situations that thwart your best-laid plans. Just go with the flow and find the funny in it.
4. Spend more time with people who make you laugh.
5. Spend less time with negative people who suck the joy out of life by focusing on all the negative things going on at work, with others or with what is going on in the world.
6. Find ways to spend time playing with children. They will remind you how to laugh if you have forgotten how to get in touch with your inner child.
7. Initiate funny conversations. Ask your friends, family, and co-workers to share therir funny stories, embarrassing moments, jokes etc.
8. Write down funny stories and funny sayings that kids say. I wish I did this more when my kids were growing up because kids say the funniest things and I thought I would never forget these stories and sayings but I have. I am determined to write down my grandkids funny stories and sayings.
9. Read books that include a lot of good humor. I always loved Barbara Johnson’s books like Stick a Geranium in Your Hat and Be Happy. She even wrote a book called Laughter from Heaven. I love her books because she knows first hand what it is like to go through hard times yet she finds the humor in life and remains super positive. You can see all her books here.
10. Listen to clean comedians. You can attend Improv or Comedy shows in your city or watch them on Youtube. My favorite clean comedian is Jim Gaffigan. I also love Tim Hawkins who blends comedy with music in a unique way.
11. Watch comedy shows on television. My favorite go-to for laughs over the past few years is The Middle. So sad it is over, but I could still watch them over and over again and still crack up. Don’t forget to think about the classics like I Love Lucy. That is sure to make anyone laugh.
12. Watch Youtube videos of babies laughing or America’s Funniest Home Videos.
Everyone has a different sense of humor, so find the things that really make you laugh the most. There is some comedy out there that just isn’t funny to me at all, but to some people, it tickles all their funny bones. I suggest making a list of all the things that make YOU laugh and bring out the funny in you. Have you noticed that certain people who bring out the funny in you? If so, make sure you spend more time with them.
Whatever you do, try to pay attention and evaluate whether laughter has been a part of your day in anyway. If not, choose one of these ideas before your day is done and make some time for laughter.
Lord Byron was known to say, “Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine.”
So do yourself a favor and invest in improving your overall health and wellbeing with a little more laughter in each and every day.
What about you? Do you have any tried and true ways to increase laughter in your life?
Wishing you Joy in your journey,
If this post was helpful to you, please save it to one of your Pinterest boards to reference later. And share with your friends! Sharing is caring!
Grab Your Healthy Habits Tracker Here
Subscribe to receive a printable copy of my "HEALTHY HABITS TRACKER" to help you integrate healthy habits step by step into your life. You'll also receive access to my password protected RESOURCE LIBRARY full of tools to help you on your natural health journey.
Leave a Reply