Laughing that Stress Away

 

Change is inevitable as we grow older, but a sense of humour is our first line of defence, and it doesn’t age

This has been a big year of change for me. Positive or negative, change amounts to stress. Stress of course impacts our health and well- being.

Not usually given to huge amounts of introspection, I am, nevertheless, curious as to why I’ve managed a stressful  year without too much damage to my physical, or emotional health. For me, the answer lies in a sense of humour and a great group of friends.

A sense of humour and great group of friends are my first lines of defence against the effects of stress

I believe that friends and laughter are closely linked. I’m focusing on a sense of humour in this post and, I’ll save ‘friends’ for the next.

What is a sense of humour and is it that important?

Researching “A sense of humour”  I found there is a lot of information out there. Most agree on the positive effects for our health.  I did battle to find clear consensus on a  definition. The tendency is to describe it as a person who can make people laugh, rather than a personality trait. Whilst this is important, its not the whole picture.

My personal view on what a Sense of Humour is and why its so important for our wellbeing

It’s the ability to see  the funny side of life, even in serious situations. A sense of humour is not about being the class clown, or  delivering a perfectly timed, witty comment. Rather, it’s the ability to appreciate the absurdity of our crazy world. Above all its about being able to laugh at yourself.

Like most people I am drawn to those with a great sense of humour. Someone who can laugh at themselves,and carry people along  in their amusement at a situation, without resorting to belittling, has mastered a true survival skill.

Laughter certainly makes us feel better in the moment but  there are long-term benefits

There is nothing more satisfying than laughing until you ache. The physical, mental and emotional benefits of this kind of laughter cannot be underestimated.

A sense of humour is a strong social bonding link in a family, but even more so with friends and colleagues 

Thinking about the important people in my life, outside my family, the thing that links us together is the ability to really laugh and appreciate life’s oddities. My friends are a diverse and individualistic group with different ideologies, values and principles. The crucial link that has helped our friendships survive, is the ability to laugh at ourselves and acknowledge our idiosyncrasies.

It’s carried us through rebellious teens, failed marriages, deaths of loved ones, dread diseases, empty nest syndrome to name a few. It’s not that we treat the serious or terrifying things in life as a joke, it just takes the personal out of a situation and helps us view life from a different perspective.

In our youth- centred culture a Sense of humour is even more important as we age

How could it not be? We are constantly reminded that aging isn’t for the faint hearted. No matter what we do, our bodies will age.  If we want to keep our hearts young, and stay connected to others, we need to develop this skill.

Its never too late to start developing a sense of humour

Good news if you are one of those who takes yourself a little more seriously than most. Learn to laugh it helps keep you youthful, at least on the inside.

We come into the world wanting to connect with others through laughter. If you are a parent, think back to the excitement of your baby’s first smile or how delighted you were with that first chuckle. Do you remember how hard you worked to get them to repeat those grins and giggles?

The ability to laugh is something you can practice, there are loads of suggestions as to how you can develop your sense of humour. Here is a really simple way to  start. Walk through the mall and smile at  everyone. You will be amazed at how many people smile back. The startled reaction of some people should get you chuckling at least.

 

Image- Pixabay.com