The Laughing Cure: What Your Kid Can Teach You About the Power of Laughter
Laughter improves your health, happiness, and relationships.
When did you last catch your child’s contagious laughter and neither of you could stop snorting?
For me, it was Mother’s Day 2023. I’ll tell you the short story.
I was having brunch with my son and his wife in a delightful outside cafe in a local strip mall, one of our favorite spots because of the breakfast options and special coffees.
As we chat, a firetruck quietly drives through the parking lot, my son and I notice one of the firemen leaning out of the window and waving. So we wave back.
Then we both notice his wife laughing at us, telling us to turn around to see two kids jumping up and down on their chairs, trying to get the fireman’s attention.
The joke’s on us!
We both start laughing, one snort triggers the other into waves of belly laughs, and it’s impossible to stop. Breakfast ended with red faces and me visiting the commode.
How Children See the World
When I raised my son, we laughed a lot. Either life was funnier then, or we just saw it differently.
When did you last laugh with abandon as a child spontaneously does at the world?
It feels so good. I would pay good money for a belly laugh like that any day.
For children, laughing is their way of expressing joy and happiness. Everything is new to a child, so they don’t need complicated reasons to laugh. They can easily see through the lens of wonder and amazement. Laughing is a pure expression of who they are and their feelings.
Children also discover early on that laughing is a way to connect with other kids. They love to be silly and make others laugh by playing games, telling jokes, or making funny faces. It becomes a social behavior that creates a sense of bonding and closeness.
Physical humor, such as slipping and falling, and watching animals do silly things, makes kids laugh as can surprise if done in a non-scary way.
Children learn to laugh at unexpected events, such as toys that make a funny noise or people butt tooting.
When kids and adults laugh together, kids learn what is considered funny. As a result, their sense of humor develops over time and becomes more sophisticated.
What Comedians Know About Laughter
We get older, and comedy becomes more serious and more mental. It’s a social signal that builds rapport with others but can also be a way to judge another’s person morals and values.
For adults, laughing can also be a way to release tension and even have pain-relieving effects that help us cope with stress and anxiety.
But did you know seeing the world and its problems in a new light is often possible if you laugh? We become more creative and positive when temporarily suspending disbelief and opening ourselves to new possibilities.
What I know for sure about laughter is it connects me with my inner child. When I laugh, I tap into the parts of myself that are playful and carefree. I can’t take a “who gives a F*” attitude that releases the ego’s hold on my mind.
Comedians know how to connect with their audience, relieve tension, and help people see the world anew. They can play a crucial role in helping us let go of limiting thoughts and beliefs and develop empathy for another’s point of view.
And one thing we can do is help our friends to laugh and see things differently when the adulting gets tough.
Why Laughter is the Best Medicine
Science has proven that laughter improves our health, happiness, and relationships.
As we age, we often forget about having fun, but we must rediscover it for our health’s sake. Let’s take a look at a few examples.
Laughter reduces stress and anxiety.
Your body releases endorphins, which have mood-boosting and pain-relieving effects. Laughter can also help reduce muscle tension and blood pressure, contributing to stress and anxiety levels.
Laughter improves mood.
Laughter helps to lift your spirits and make you feel happier. It can also help reduce sadness, anger, and loneliness.
Laughter boosts self-esteem.
When you laugh, you feel good about yourself and your ability to cope with life’s challenges. It can also help you see life’s lighter side and remember to appreciate the good things.
Laughter strengthens relationships.
Shared laughter can help build stronger bonds with friends, family, and colleagues and a more positive and relaxed atmosphere.
Laughter improves cognitive function.
Want to improve your memory, attention, and problem-solving skills? Laughing can also help to protect your brain against age-related decline.
Laughter increases resilience.
You can help yourself bounce back from difficult experiences, cope with stress better, and improve your overall positive perspective.
Laughter increases pain tolerance.
It can help to distract you from pain and make it more bearable if you look at the funny side of the situation.
Laughter also boosts your immune system.
It helps to increase the production of white blood cells, which fight infection and protect against heart disease. Laughter can also help to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Laughter extends lifespan.
Studies have shown that people who laugh more tend to live longer than those who don’t.
Are you convinced it’s time to find something funny to watch, read, or listen to?
Make your life fun, and add some giggles, chortles, and big belly laughs.
Let the laughter work its magic on you!
Cathy Lee Taylor — entrepreneur, life coach, podcaster, and freelance writer. I like to help people realize their highest potential. Please read my ebook here.
