Is Laughter really the Best Medicine?

Have you heard the expression "Laughter is the best medicine"? You could say it's a bit cliché but we use clichés every day, it doesn't mean they are untrue. I'm curious, did you know  deciding to chose to smile or laugh can turn your mood around if you have been feeling a bit down.

When you want to feel more positive, make sure you spend time with people who are upbeat. If you are with others who are down as well, you're probably going to not to help each other leave that mood behind, so find someone who is happy or smiling to help you lift yourself.

No one can truly be happy 100% of the time. If you are unhappy more than you are happy, it could be time to seek some help. Now part of your therapy could very well be to use laughter.

You may find it surprising, there are clinics that promote laughing as part of the group. It entails gathering in a circle and forcibly laughing while the group participates. There is also laughter yoga. If you don't believe me just look it up on YouTube. It is quite entertaining and the participants definitely seem to enjoy it. It may seem strange to outsiders, but participants are proponents of the methods. They get a good feeling after the sessions, and many say they make great friends in the process.

Laughter helps lower stress as well. It releases endorphins in your brain which are responsible for creating that feel good factor. It is also believed to help in producing antibodies which can fight disease. Perhaps this is why the phrase, laughter is the best medicine, came about in the first place.

You can incorporate laughter into your own routine. Of course you may feel it is a bit strange in the beginning.  But, even if it is forced, as you do more, you'll get more used to it and you will stop feeling strange over time. Here is the thing, smiling and laughing are the tools you need to change your mood. After a while, you will find yourself laughing for real rather than forcing it.

Go on experiment with it - just for fun - it will improve your general outlook on life. People you associate with will also notice and want to spend more time with you. Do commit to it for a consistent period of time. Notice the changes that you experience in your feelings. It is likely you will never go back to the way you were. While no one can guarantee using laughter will make you live longer and happier, what is there to lose? So the question is, why wouldn’t you use it if you’ve got nothing to lose? 

To help get you started with this fun experiment, watch this old video below. Let me know if you can watch it the whole way through without smiling, giggling or laughing. When you really choose to go for it and laugh heartily with it, you will benefit all the more.

Enjoy :)