The Laughter Rx

[Guest guest]

The Laughter Rx

It's not often that we talk about laughter's effect on healing,

stress and immunity. Yet it plays a role so important that we should

mention it more often. Not only can laughter lighten one's load

during times of stress or illness, but studies are finding that it

may boost immunity, relieve pain and even help protect against heart

disease. We don't yet know what factors in laughter are

responsible for the positive effects. Perhaps it's the physical act

of laughing that does it, or the way laughter helps us cope in tough

situations. Perhaps it's the social bond we form with others when we

laugh with them. Maybe it's the combination of all three.

Here are some healthy ways to inject a little laughter into your

life:

- Spend some time with your inner child. Children laugh around 400

times a day – adults, around 25. Find ways to bring more humor

into your life.

- Lighten up. In line at the post office? Stuck in traffic? You have

two choices: make yourself angry or make yourself laugh. Opt for the

latter.

- Look for humor in difficult situations – even those you think

you can't bear. You just learned that laughter can be healing.

Don't be afraid to put it into practice.