When someone shares a good laugh with you, they are spreading not only joy but lowering blood pressure, boosting the immune system, improving brain functioning, lowering the risk of heart disease, as well as reducing depression, anger, anxiety, and stress.
A healthy sense of humor during hard times is especially beneficial not only for all these physical healthful benefits, but the psyche benefits as well.
You know the expression, “It only hurts when I laugh.” I like to think, “It only hurts when I can’t laugh.” For me, humor is a great “enlightening” agent–helping to shed light on an event, so it no longer appears as earthshaking.
I have often quipped that comedy is when bad things happen to people who aren’t me. One day I realized this joke of mine was actually very Buddhist. By removing my ego, I’m no longer personally connected to a situation’s outcome or concerned about humiliation or self-pity. Thus it’s a lot easier to see the humor in it. When you have a good sense of humor, being able to separate your ego from a situation, you are better able to reframe the meaning you give an event, so it no longer appears so devastating or shameful.
Happiness Assignment: Pretend you are Jon Stewart, and put a funny spin a bad event in your life. Recognize that a good belly laugh will not only make things feel less over- whelming, it will offer the opportunity for a more objective perspective.
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