Yes indeed, folks. Laughter, and more broadly, positive emotion through humor is our topic today.
Bill Cosby says, "Through humor you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers. And once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be, you can survive."
Not only can laughter lift your spirits when you are down, but researchers have found that the positive emotions that you get from laughing can be beneficial to your health. The following are some of the positive health changes that come as a result of learning to cope with stress using humor, positive emotion, and optimism:
- Boosted immune function
- Increased salivary immunoglobulin A (which guards against respiratory infection)
- Increased life span
- Decreased physical debility in old age
- Decreased stress hormones
- Improved cardiovascular functioning
- Greater flexibility and perspective when dealing with problems (thanks to an increase in dopamine in the anterior cingulate cortex)
- Greater daily positive mood
(For more details on these and additional benefits see the research article here)
Though laughter may not be the direct cause of all of the health benefits, it can act as a tool to help you to experience positive emotions and broad perspectives that act as buffers against negative stress.
"The only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it. You either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh. Crying gives me a headache." -Marjorie Pay Hinckley
