The evidence for the psychological benefits of laughter is even stronger.
“… [Laughter] enables one to distance oneself from professional and personal problems, that is, to detach or disengage mentally to put those situations into a proper
perspective.” [1]
- Laughter improves your mood.
Laughter is cathartic; it releases negative emotions particularly anger, anxiety, fear and boredom in a pleasant and acceptable way [2]. Building more humour and laughter in your life helps assure that these (Neuropeptides) chemical messages are working for you, not against you. - Laughter improves creativity.
Laughing in response to something funny is a very sophisticated brain function which sweeps our entire cerebral cortex and is terrific for mental flexibility.
There’s an old story about a reporter interviewing Albert Einstein at his laboratory in Princeton, New Jersey. The reporter was surprised to see a large horseshoe hanging over the professor’s office doorway. “Professor Einstein,” she asked, “you’re a great scientist. Surely you don’t believe a horseshoe will bring good luck. “Of course I don’t,” he replied. “Then why is the horseshoe up there?” the reporter insisted. “Because it works whether you believe it or not.”
- Laughter therapy relieves depression.
See 1 above - Laughter reduces barriers
Laughing is wonderful for team-building. It works extremely well at social functions and events where people may not know each other very well. - Laughter therapy helps us deal with our mortality.
“People’s willingness to sign the organ donor consent on their driver’s license rises with their tendency to laugh.”
“Laughter is the shortest distance between two people” – Thomas Borges
“Creativity and humour are identical. They both involve bringing together two items which do not have an obvious
connection and creating a relationship. [3]”
Reference
1. Berk, R.,Research Critiques Incite Words of Mass Destruction.Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor http://aath.org/art_berkr01.html. Last accessed: 26/4/05
2. Junkins, E.,The Role of Laughter in Psychotherapy.
3. Doskoch, P.,Happily Ever Laughter.Psychology Today
Learn more about creativity and laughter and experience laughter at your workplace! Contact us: info@laughterworks.com.au, or + (61) 438 545 607.