Happiness is achieved by treating Life as good for a laugh. More than that, research says it is actually good for our health. So say American scientists based at the University of Maryland. Laughter not only achieves a lift in our mood, it has an amazing impact on our blood pressure. How? And Why?
These researchers monitored people who volunteered to watch edited highlights alternatively of a war film or a comedy film.
Here’s what they discovered! The war film clips caused the blood vessels of those watching to react just as they do when we have mental stress in our lives. Sustained by watching such films endlessly and it follows that it will have an adverse effect on the heart, leading to heart disease and strokes.
Conversely, the blood vessels of those watching highlights of a comedy expanded, improving circulation and reducing blood pressure.
Laughter, they conclude , is medically great for your heart. They even claim that it is as powerful as aerobic exercise and statins.
Yet what should we take from this? Laughter makes you heathier and happier. Clearly yes! But does that finding surprise you, really? In truth, don’t we all feel so much better after a good laugh? Self-evidently Yes!
So what is the simple lesson to achieving a greater happiness level and better health?
It is simply this: knowing this truth on its own is not enough. We do actually have to provide ourselves with the opportunity to laugh. We do need to listen to or watch someone who will help us do that. And for some of us that is difficult. It is as though we have to accept it is OK for us to laugh.
We do not need permission, for Goodness Sake! We can do it without breaking laws!
Playing dvds or media devices in our car, on trains and planes is common place yet we do that mostly for musical enjoyment. That’s better than nothing, but not the same!
Lightening up our lives, being able to see the funny side of things, better still, being able to laugh at ourselves – they are all vital if we are going to realise the full benefits of laughter. So please for your sake, and for those in your family or business, make provision in your day and your week to laugh. To achieve all or any of the benefits, please deem it important enough and of significance..
So let me end this sincere but serious exhortation and allow you to go and book, buy, rent some digital, audio or video material to make you laugh. Then resolve to play a download or DVD of a comedian or funny film. Actually letting oneself laugh is now proven to be worth the commitment.
Best wishes
Gerry Neale
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