Knock-Knock: The Power of Humor

It can be difficult to find humor during challenging times. There are days when life simply feels too serious to laugh about anything. In fact, many of us have more days of seriousness than days in which we find something funny.

 

I woke myself up last night, laughing out loud. As I recalled my dream, it had actually started out as an incredibly stressful dream filled with chaos, a lack of control and potential danger. Then, out of nowhere (as dreams tend to go), something hilarious happened and I couldn’t stop laughing… both in the dream and when I woke myself up. It felt great!

 

Laughter activates endorphins, serotonin and dopamine – our ‘happy hormones’. Studies reveal that laughing, for just one minute a day, lessens stress, lowers blood pressure and can improve a person’s outlook on their situation. Humor is a free and effective way to soothe ourselves.

 

Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor, said humor helped him and fellow camp prisoners preserve a sense of meaning and purpose in life, even when surrounded by death. "I would never have made it if I could not have laughed. Laughing lifted me momentarily . . . out of this horrible situation, just enough to make it . . . survivable."

 

It’s okay to laugh, even when times are difficult. Humor can be a brief healthy distraction, providing relief from tension – acting as a coping mechanism, or prompting you to see things in a different way.

 

BENEFITS OF HUMOR

  • Lower stress and burnout at work/school; improved performance and satisfaction

  • Increased coping ability & resilience in the face of adversity

  • Improved self-esteem & self-worth; reduced self-judgment

  • Enhanced creativity & inclination to think outside the box

  • Greater life satisfaction; ability to see things more positively

  • Stronger emotional regulation; finding a healthy balance with your moods

  • Improved overall mental health; desire to pay attention to overall well-being

  • Better relationships with others. Laughing together increases the likelihood of sharing more personal information with each other and a mutual desire to work through conflict.

* Detrimental humor is an exception (harmful sarcasm or self-defeating humor). This can reduce the quality of relationships, lower self-esteem, and increase depression. It may be a sign of trying to escape reality or of being insensitive & even abusive.

MAXIMIZE BENEFITS OF HUMOR

  • Spend time with people who enjoy laughing (Not at someone’s expense)

  • Watch comedy shows/videos/movies that match your sense of humor

  • Read humorous books or Listen to funny podcasts

  • Subscribe to a “bad joke of the day” site and enjoy some groan-worthy laughs

  • Try laughter yoga –a blend of deep breathing, stretching, and self-generated laughter

  • Play – with pets, friends, family or coworkers; chase bubbles, dance crazy, pop bubble wrap!

  • Notice humor - write down the 3 funniest things you experience each day

  • Recognize potential humor in ridiculously frustrating situations

"Laughter sets the spirit free to move through even the most tragic circumstances. It helps us shake our heads clear, get our feet back under us and restore our sense of balance and purpose." (Captain Gerald Coffee, POW in Vietnam)

Heather Kassman