This is a collaborative post.
We have all experienced that light-hearted lift ourselves – one tickles the funny bone, and instantly, the whole atmosphere is lighter. It can be a goofy meme, a well-cracked joke, or even a sudden, infectious burst of laughter a friend and you share, leaving your cheeks sore and your brain strange. It’s clear: there is something tremendously effective in a good laugh. It lifts the burdens of the day, even if briefly.
Why It Feels So Good
As it turns out, laughter isn’t only about entertainment or social connection. There is actual science behind why it always makes us feel so good. During laughter, your body releases a burst of endorphins, the same feel-good chemicals you get when you exercise or bite down on a favourite chocolate piece. In addition to those endorphins, laughter reduces the levels of stress chemicals like cortisol and adrenaline in the brain. That’s why a natural laugh can soothe the nervous system and even alleviate body tension up to 45 minutes afterward.
Changing Perspective through Humour
What’s so fascinating is the way humour changes our outlook. When life gets too much, a good joke can alter the way we perceive a moment, even if only by a fraction of a percent. Even that small degree of emotional removal is sufficient to let us breathe, give it a beat, and keep moving forward. It’s not ignoring that it’s tough. It’s creating a place in our lives for a different type of energy – one that helps us remember we’re still human, that we’re still capable of experiencing delight, even in the midst of it all.
What the Experts Say
Psychologists have always known humour to be one of our strongest coping mechanisms. It isn’t a matter of denying reality but of letting ourselves have a breather from it. It does not matter if it finds its use in therapy sessions or is encouraged for use in mental health support groups; laughter engenders connection. And oftentimes, it is the one thing we need when we don’t feel like we can cope. One laugh can shatter barriers quicker than words ever can. It makes people feel safe, noticed, and a little less isolated.
Laughing On Purpose
You don’t have to have a comedy show or a night on the town to tap into it, either. Laughter therapy is even a serious practice these days, sessions in which people come together and laugh intentionally. Yes, even artificial laughter will do the trick. The body won’t know the difference, so the same feel-good endorphins are released regardless. It will feel awkward at first, but quite often, people emerge from those sessions lighter, more at peace, and a lot more bonded to the people around them.
Bring In the Laughter
The best part of it is how readily available it is. No fancy equipment, special setting, or even company (though it is helpful). Just a sense of willingness to let yourself be ridiculous. Watch your favourite comedy movie again. Strike up a conversation with that friend who always cracks you up. Even watch cute animal videos if that’s your cup of tea.
More Than Just a Moment
Sometimes, the most difficult task is actually giving ourselves permission to laugh when things feel heavy. But it’s when we need it the most. Humour doesn’t remove the hard stuff, but it can provide the resilience to bear it. And perhaps even bear it a little more easily.
Read more: 8 Things To Remember When You Are Going Through a Challenging Time
