Laughter The Best Medicine

Laughing makes everyone feel good. Gift laughter to those around you and they'll love you for it!

Th e re 's nothing good laughter to rid the body and mind of ailments. In fact, most doctors advise: Laugh and live longer! And the reason is simple. Laughter makes life better by taking off load from one's shoulder. A sense of humour helps one to go through life's most difficult times—breakups, long illnesses, loss of loved ones, tension at the workplace... Laughter may not miraculously turn a negative situation into a positive one, but it does help provide a balm. It also helps one to relax, forget tragic incidents and face life with renewed energy. Studies have shown that laughter has tremendous health benefits: it reduces stress, lowers blood pressure, elevates mood, boosts the immune system, improves brain function and may even decrease the risk of heart attack!
WHY IS LAUGHTER GOOD?
When we laugh most of our muscles get active, the respiratory and the central nervous system benefit, stress hormones decrease, endorphins increase (body's natural pain killers), immunoglobins are released which boost the body's immunity system and BP falls. On the whole there is a general feeling of wellness and happiness.
    Apart from the physical wellness, laughter also contributes towards a healthier and happier social life. A person with a good sense of humour is always in demand. At the workplace, a person who performs with a smile has better relations with his seniors and colleagues. People are naturally attracted towards him because of his ability to project a positive, optimistic and happier face. Good laughter = greater productivity. Laughter is one of the keys to building happy bonds with family and colleagues. Most girls look for a sense of humour in their partners among other qualities. Many couples have fallen in love and stayed together, despite yawning gaps, because they can "laugh together!"
HOW TO SMILE
An easy way to keep the smile on the face is to seek out funny people in your social encounters, read books on humour, watch films, theatre and television programmes which can make you laugh or simply get close to children. They are great stress relievers and laughter inducers! Spending some time with them can do wonders to you. Go down memory lane by reminiscing happier moments. This also brings a smile on your lips.
expert speak
'Laughter has tremendous psychological benefits but it has to be natural laughter. It's a great stress reliever, makes you more happy, relaxed. It has been proved that those who have a sense of humour recover faster than those who are depressed or suicidal. People usually want to share their laughter with others and this induces a sense of social belonging. It has also been proved that those who have a sense of humour are the ones who are intelligent and creative' —Amit Chakraborty, consultant psychologist
DID YOU KNOW?
Jan Thygesen Poulsen, a dynamic young man from Copenhagen, set up a Laughter Club in Denmark and celebrated World Laughter Day in January 2000. Jan created history by gathering nearly 10,000 people in the Town Hall Square on January 9, 2000. In spite of the cold weather, thousands of people turned up and had a laughter session, thereby creating a Guinness Book record! EXPERT: Amit Chakraborty, consultant psychologist

THEY SAID...
'Laugh as much as you breathe and love as long as you live'
    —Anonymous
'The human race has only one really effective weapon and that is laughter'
    —Mark Twain 'Nothing shows a man's character more than what he laughs at' —Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
'If every word I said could make you laugh, I'd talk forever...'
    —Anonymous 'Perhaps I know best why it is man alone who laughs; he alone suffers so deeply that he had to invent laughter'
    —Friedrich Nietzsche
'God is a comedian, playing to an audience too afraid to laugh'
    —Voltaire

LAUGH BENEFITS
Hormones: Stress hormones like cortisol, epinephrine, adrenaline and dopamine are reduced. Health-enhancing hormones like endorphins and neurotransmitters are increased. Laughter means a stronger immune system Good workout: A good belly laugh exercises the diaphragm, contracts the abs and even works out the shoulders, leaving muscles more relaxed. It even provides a good workout for the heart! Right Perspective: Laughter helps you see the funnier things of life Social Benefits: Laughter is contagious. By elevating the mood of others, it improves the quality of social interaction, reducing stress more! Fights Illness: Optimists have stronger immune systems and are actually able to fight off illness better. Overall, scientists have found that optimistic people are healthier and live longer!
It Feels Like Eating 2000 Chocolate Bars: A smile gives the same level of stimulation as eating 2000 chocos!

Fran Lebowitz  - "Life is something to do when you can't get to sleep."