Proverbs 17:22
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Laughter can help you heal physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Norman Cousins felt that laughter was the equivalent of “inner jogging.” It literally massages your internal organs. It can clear mucus from your lungs and lower blood pressure. It is an overall body tonic. Some research indicates that laughter can build your immune system, making you more immune to colds and the flu.

An ancient Oriental healing technique actually uses laughter to boost healing energy. The Taoists believe that negative emotions block a person's life force (chi), or life energy, causing illness. These negative emotions include fear, anger, worry, and grief. According to Chinese Tao masters, a sincere smile (inner or real smile), is the best and quickest thing you can do to boost healing energy. A true smile produces positive energy that is send to the internal organs and other parts of the body.

Laughter also triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s painkiller. This helps reduce, not only pain, but stress. Endorphins also build up serotonin levels which help heal depression. Click here for more information about depression. You are obviously happier and feel better when you laugh.

Children laugh around 400 times a day. Children are always giggling. They can have fun doing anything. At some point in time we seem to lose this ability to laugh so easily. Adults only laugh an average of 15 times a day. There are many days I don’t laugh that often.

When my father became ill with liver cancer, I wanted to make a tape of all his favorite comedies so he could watch them over and over like Norman Cousins did. I wanted him to ”laugh his way to health.” When I asked my mother for a list of all his favorite comedies, she said, “He doesn’t have any. He never laughs anymore. I don’t think he finds anything funny.” I couldn’t help but wonder if that was one reason he was ill.

Some hospitals are beginning to incorporate laughter into their healing programs. (I tried this in my classroom one year. My students became so rowdy, I had to end my little experiment. Apparently when adolescent children begin to laugh, they simply cannot stop!)

Make a list of all the tv shows that make you laugh. Some of my favorites are:
I love Lucy;
Everybody Loves Raymond;
King of Queens;
The Nanny;
The Late Show With David Letterman;
Everybody Hates Chris;
The Planet’s Funniest Animals;
My Name Is Earl.
Yes, I know some of these shows are corny. That’s what I like about them. The ridiculous often gets a laugh. I even watch reruns of The Munsters. What can I say? I think the show is hilarious! I also like blooper shows, funniest commercials, etc.

Please go to the Forum and tell us about some of your favorite things to laugh at!

When I’m feeling blue, I pop in a tape, laugh some and always feel better. I also keep a collection of jokes nearby. You just never know when you’ll need a good laugh.

There is also a Laughter Meditation you can try. (It’s not really a meditation so don’t freak out on me.) Each morning as you wake up and stretch a little, begin to laugh. There doesn’t have to be a reason, just do it. Just laugh. Go for a couple of deep belly laughs. Try to keep it up for five minutes. You can do this when you go to bed at night, when you’re stuck in traffic, or anytime you feel stressed. Yes, people may think you’re crazy, but should you care? No. You will be feeling great and eventually you will be healthier.Research shows that a good belly laugh actually massages the internal organs. Laughter may also increase creativity. It’s a win-win situation.

To read funny jokes from Reader's Digest click here. Then under Joke Center on the left, click read jokes.

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