A considerable number of scientific studies have shown the positive effects that laughter has on our health. It strengthens our immune system, prevents heart disease, stress and depression, and improves our interactions with others. In activating the reward system, it liberates dopamine (the neurotransmitter of happiness), stimulating our sense of pleasure.
To lead a healthy life, we need laughter as much as physical exercise. Having a good chuckle makes us see life in a more positive light and decreases our anxiety. This opens us to dialogue and lets us put our problems into perspective.
So, go ahead giggle away if you find something comical!
Some may say that while they appreciate a good joke, they don’t always know how to make one. Let them heed the advice of Sir Thomas More and join in his prayer for good humor:
Grant me, O Lord, a sense of good humor.
Allow me the grace to be able to take a joke to discover in life a bit of joy,
and to be able to share it with others.
Amen.
We can also laugh with our favorite standup comedians, who know how to find all sorts of comical situations and present them in such a way that we can’t resist chuckling along. A good show may make all that bad tension go away.
And then there are games! Why not try this other way of having a laugh together? Games are not reserved for children. They can be great fun for the whole family. There as well, we can see that laughter is good for everyone. The Bible's book of Ecclesiastes reminds us that there is time for everything. So, don’t forget to take time to laugh.
Marie-Noël Florant
