"The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter." - Mark Twain
Laughter can turn even the most serious situations around and help to mend even the deepest pains. Endorphins, the body's natural painkillers and protectors against depression, are released at a rapid rate when a person laughs. In fact laughter is such a strong healer that it is used in methods of therapists and doctors. It has been found to relieve stress, increase tolerance to pain, prevent heart attacks and stroke, increase the brains ability to retain and process information, stimulate the immune system and improve functions such as blood pressure, heart rate, muscle activity, and stomach acidity.
In 1979, it was recorded that a man by the name of Norman Cousins recovered from ankylosing spondylitis (severe arthritis in the lower back) with the help of laughter. Cousins found that ten minutes of "belly laughter" allowed him two hours of painless sleep. Cousins recorded his healing process and experience in his inspiring novel titled Anatomy of an Illness.
But not just any laugh will do. These effects only occur if the laughter is true, honest laughter... your body doesn't respond to fake laughter (clearly you can't fool yourself). So laugh at the little things, be in good company, find and hold onto the silver lining, and by all means feel free to laugh out loud.
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