Introduction:

Don’t take your self so seriously. You’ll not get out of this world alive.
One’s sense of humor involves the capacity to appreciate incongruity, absurdity, an unexpected future, a pleasant surprise, or a startle.
Humor helps soften life’s blows. For instance note the humor people express at funerals.
Participants in a seminar recently identified humor as an important coping factor. They believed it played a role in their spirituality and their perception of the meaning of life.
Nurses’ use of humor is important to foster trusting relationships with patients.

Emmett Fox:
“Cultivate a sense of humor. Look for the funny side of everything. It is always there and will help you to meet any situation. Laugh at yourself at least once before ten o’clock every morning”

Seven Benefits of maintaining a sense of humor:
Humor is infectious. When laughter is shared it binds people together. My best friend and I have been friends for more than thirty-five years and the binding force is the joy and humor we share about our lives and living.

Benefit  One – Stop taking yourself so seriously
Learn to laugh at yourself. Laughing at oneself relieves tension and gets your mind onto other issues. After a good laugh, you are lighter and more receptive to solutions. As you become aware of your own mind, you will be amazed at the humor you find in self reflection.
Find the humor in you neuroticness and your weakness.
I don’t know about you but my Universal Power has a sense of humor.
Evidence points to the fact that our moods, emotions, and beliefs have great impact on our well being and finding humor makes life much easier to live.

Benefit  Two – Relieves stress
It’s been proven that laughter helps relief the stress of catastrophes. When life seems to fall apart, look at the whole picture and laugh at the situation.
A dire situation often brings a chuckle to relieve the overpowering pain; such as when someone passes and people attend the service and reception; you’ll often find them reminiscing about humorous situations related to the loved one. It helps. It’s a healthy antidote to stress, loss, pain and conflict. Laughter shifts your perspective.
If you don’t develop a sense of humor about situations, it may be difficult to maintain your sanity.
Remember, life is really a game. Learn to have fun.

Benefit  Three – laughter assists with healing.
Studies show that laughter strengthens the immune system, relaxes the body, triggers the release of endorphins, helps you relax and recharge.
Build into your life more humor and laughter, you will keep the chemicals that build health at maximum level. There is no longer any doubt that your frame of mind influences you health and enriches you life.
Laughter releases inhibitions,  diminishes pain and  boosts energy. It is priceless medicine.

Benefit  Four -  Laughing with others is more powerful than laughing by yourself; However, laughing by yourself is better than no laughter.
Make it a practice to get a chuckle out of something several times a day and when you’re with friends, have fun with each other.
Laughter helps you become more spontaneous.
Humor makes you feel good and increases your optimism and self esteem.
By improving your moods and attitudes you’ll see the world through rosier glasses.

Benefit  Five – Helps addicts on the road to recovery
Laughter helps you become less judgmental. It’s hard to be critical of others or yourself when you’re laughing.
I’m a recovering alcoholic and I find humor in some of the things I did. I wouldn’t care to do them again; however it is healthier to laugh at my silliness than to beat myself up.
You’d be amazed at the laughter in a twelve step meeting; although everyone there is trying to recover from a deadly addiction. More proof that humor and laughter have healing potential.

Benefit  Six -  Laughter helps relieve you of fears.
Most of us have a fear of authority or we have someone in our life that we’ve given the power to threaten us. Someone whose approval we think we need.
There is an exercise I call the  Pink Tu Tu tactic. Learn to use it on someone you fear, are angry at, or someone you feel has power over you.
Simply visualize that person dancing in a bright neon pink Tu Tu. Guaranteed to  bring a smile to your face and completely strip them of any power you thought they had over you.

Benefit  Seven -  Laughter lets us have fun.
Humor and laughter help you lighten up. Too often we are so caught up in life that we forget to have fun. We are so concerned with being mature responsible adults we forget to laugh.
Life brings a constant barrage of conflicts, challenges and situations.  Humor adds the element of fun to a situation. Learn to find humor in life and life will become more enjoyable. Best of all It’s:
  Free
  Fun
  Easy to use
Summary:

As you learn to look for humor and playfulness in yourself and others, you’ll find life full of new discoveries. You’ll become aware that those around you have become more pleasant and fun to be with.
Make humor and laughter a mainstay in your life; you’ll live on a higher plane. You’ll be more relaxed, youthful, poised and in balance.
Try it.  You’ll like it.

Charles Schultz:
“Sometimes I lie awake at night, and ask, “Where have I gone wrong?” Then a voice says to me. “This is going to take more than one night.”

Copyright © Wee Dilts 2009