When I was going through all the rough times of cancer, I always made it a point to include laughter in my day. Watching something funny or reading it stimulates your body, enhances oxygen intake, and helps your brain release endorphins—our feel-good brain chemicals. This relieves stress and as we are all know—stress creates disease.
According to the Mayo Clinic, there are long term effects of laughter that may well improve our immune system. Our negative thoughts create chemical reactions that can affect our body by bringing more stress which decreases our immunity.
In contrast, positive thoughts can release neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more-serious illnesses. Laughter may ease pain by causing the body to produce its own natural painkillers.
When I am having a rough day and just grinding it out, just stopping and having a good laugh makes me feel so much better and I then can reset any negative thoughts. It’s like a quick redirect and it makes us refocus.
We all feel better and are in a better state of being when we have a good hearty laugh. Spending time with friends and family and sharing laughter is such a great way to heal yourself of many types of disease and discord.
Just go out and give yourself the freedom to be silly. As adults, we sometimes think we need to be serious all the time. How dull is that! Make someone laugh, laugh at yourself, just allowing yourself to be spontaneous and joyful is key to healing.
My picture in this blog is at Epcot. John and I just recently went there, and I just couldn’t walk pass these hats without putting one on. I did give my sister a great big laugh when she received my picture. I was laughing just wearing it. It made me feel like a kid, but I didn’t beg for John to purchase the hat. The picture was enough!
Stay healthy and keep laughing!