February 2010 -

This February, forget about roses and chocolates; make sure you give and receive a lot of laughter.  The second week of February is designated “Love may make the world go ‘round, but laughter keeps us from getting dizzy” week, sponsored by the Humor Project.  Love is responsible for many intense highs and lows in our lives; but at times, leaves us feeling as if we’re on an endless roller coaster ride. How can you take a break from this, and get your feet back on solid ground? The answer is laughter.

Laughter is something contagious you’ll want to catch this winter.  It holds numerous health and social benefits.  Gelotology is the study of humor and laughter and its effects on the human body.  It has found that both are powerful tools at supporting physical and emotional health.

Laughter has been found to reduce stress hormones, increase endorphins and neurotransmitters.  It lifts our spirits, eases anxiety and fear, keeps us optimistic, and helps us relax.  Laughter Therapy is a field that uses laughter and humor as a safe medium for those dealing with illness, pain and/or grief to overcome problems, give joy and offer a renewed sense of purpose to life.  Laughter can just as easily be used in everyday life to gain the same benefits.  It can offer a temporary escape and a form of release from life’s stressors. 
   
Your physical health is also supported by laughter; it has been found to boost the immune system, lower blood pressure, improve blood circulation, increase oxygen levels and relax muscles.  A good stint of laughter can provide a physical workout for your abs, diaphragm, and heart.  Helpguide.org, a non-profit website that provides information and support for life’s challenges, finds laughter is a tremendous resource for emotional and physical health.  Laughing can relax the whole body, relieving physical tension and stress leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes.  It also protects your heart by improving the function of blood vessels and blood flow.
   
Laughing with others is a powerful social tool as well.  Laughter can unite people, help build bonds, keep others’ interest, motivate others and make a positive impression.  Humorproject.com is a web-based organization that focuses full time on the positive power of humor; they work with individuals and professional agencies to bring them the benefits of humor. They seek to help people get more “smileage” out of their lives and jobs.  The organization has found that CEOs indicate they would rather hire someone with a sense of humor; humor also builds positive work relationships, and improves morale and teamwork.  Laughter is also an essential component to maintaining a relationship with your partner; it adds happiness, resilience, helps to let go of defensiveness and heal disagreements.  Mutual laughter helps you build a healthy and strong relationship.
   
How we react to events in our lives is directly linked to our physical and emotional well-being.  Using laughter in our lives is a great way to keep us from getting dizzy from life’s stressors.  Remember to keep things in perspective and smile; allow laughter into your life.  Read the funny pages, watch a comedy, goof around and don’t take yourself too seriously.  Laughter will lend itself to your emotional and physical health while making you more attractive and fun to be around.  Remember to share in and give out a lot of laughter in the month of February!