Laughing can actually help your life!
A thirty second BELLY LAUGH can give us up to three months of physical immunity. So, if you have four good ones, you’re set for the year! It’s like getting a booster shot. Positive thoughts energize us and strengthen the immune system. On the other hand, negative thoughts have a tremendous draining effect on us and weaken the immune system. A five-minute fit of anger will deplete an entire eight-hour work day.
Now, thirty seconds of belly laughing can be quite a long time, but even a SMILE will release the same endorphins, dopamine and adrenalin inside the brain. There is truth to the old phrase “Smile and the world smiles with you.” Your smile actually creates a reaction in the brain. So, when your lips go up, a signal is sent that says you’re happy. When we smile at others, they smile back – the same signal is sent and their brain reacts. It’s the best kind of contagion!
Now, with so many negative things happening in the world and in our own personal struggles, it can be a challenge to smile in the face of it all. We can be intentional with our happiness. Focus on PEOPLE, PLACES and THINGS that are funny, those wonderful events that energize you and make you feel good. Be purposeful about moving yourself in that positive direction.
The next time you’re texting a friend the message “LOL,” try actually doing it. Laugh Out Loud today! It’s good for your body and your mind.