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Too Serious To Laugh
by Julie Bartkus
Have you ever faced a situation that you felt was just too serious to laugh about?
Many people feel that some things in life are just too serious to laugh about. But did you know that laughter is a way to relieve stress and a way to cope with life's tough challenges?
Sandra Baker had cancer and tells us that laughter helped heal her. Bethany Hamilton's arm was bitten off four inches below her shoulder and she used humor to cope with the situation and to ease other's discomfort with the situation. A little boy's eyesight was failing due to a degenerative disease, and with the help of his father and humor, he was able to focus on the blessings he did have. Gloria Estefan nearly died in a bus accident and used humor to lighten the mood as doctors worked with her to restore her health.
Laughter in itself has been reported to have miraculous healing powers. Norman Cousins, author of Anatomy of an Illness, writes that laughter played a major role in restoring his health and mobility after being almost completely paralyzed from a life threatening disease. Norman's story is fascinating one.
Dr. Lee Berk and Dr. Stanely Tan, two California scientists who research the effects of humor and laughter, state that many positive benefits can be gained by incorporating humor into daily life.
Laughter helps control pain and stress, lowers blood pressure, helps fight diseases, and is aerobic, providing a workout for the diaphragm.
In a study conducted by Hajime Kimata, MD, PhD from Japan, humor was determined to be effective with relieving allergy symptoms for up to four hours by patients who suffered with dermatitis.
Sandra Baker who I mentioned in the opening paragraph of this article, states that laughter helped heal her when she had cancer.
Following are several strategies she recommends to help people laugh more.
Read funny cards at stores.
Do something for yourself every day.
When you get frustrated with someone or something -- perhaps your boss -- get a roll of toilet paper and write all the things that frustrate you on it. At the end of the week, flush all of the toilet paper that you wrote on (and your negative feelings) down the drain and out of your mind.
Draw a cartoon of your frustrating experience.
Look at the pictures on cards and think of something funny to say about the picture.
Have fun and laugh every day that ends in y.
Keep a book filled with pictures, cards, or other positive things that you can review to help lift your spirits.
Watch funny tapes. Sandra watched I love Lucy videos during her chemotherapy treatments.
Attend a comedy show. The day Sandra found out she had breast cancer she went to a comedy club and laughed the night away.
So what do you do if you find there's nothing funny to laugh about? Well, studies have shown that if you simply force yourself to laugh for several minutes you will still reap many benefits. Humor increases your body's ability to utilize oxygen and increases your immunity to infections by instantly increasing a flood of disease-fighting cells and proteins into the blood.
Can't force a laugh on your own? Try tape recording children laughing and play the tape to yourself when you need a laugh. I bet you'll at least crack a smile. Remember, it takes only 26 muscles to smile and 62 to frown.
© 2001-2006 Julie Bartkus. All Rights Reserved. Julie Bartkus is an author, speaker, consultant and coach.
For speaker availability or for information CONTACT US or call us now at 800.211.5671.
Many people feel that some things in life are just too serious to laugh about. But did you know that laughter is a way to relieve stress and a way to cope with life's tough challenges?
Sandra Baker had cancer and tells us that laughter helped heal her. Bethany Hamilton's arm was bitten off four inches below her shoulder and she used humor to cope with the situation and to ease other's discomfort with the situation. A little boy's eyesight was failing due to a degenerative disease, and with the help of his father and humor, he was able to focus on the blessings he did have. Gloria Estefan nearly died in a bus accident and used humor to lighten the mood as doctors worked with her to restore her health.
Laughter in itself has been reported to have miraculous healing powers. Norman Cousins, author of Anatomy of an Illness, writes that laughter played a major role in restoring his health and mobility after being almost completely paralyzed from a life threatening disease. Norman's story is fascinating one.
Dr. Lee Berk and Dr. Stanely Tan, two California scientists who research the effects of humor and laughter, state that many positive benefits can be gained by incorporating humor into daily life.
Laughter helps control pain and stress, lowers blood pressure, helps fight diseases, and is aerobic, providing a workout for the diaphragm.
In a study conducted by Hajime Kimata, MD, PhD from Japan, humor was determined to be effective with relieving allergy symptoms for up to four hours by patients who suffered with dermatitis.
Sandra Baker who I mentioned in the opening paragraph of this article, states that laughter helped heal her when she had cancer.
Following are several strategies she recommends to help people laugh more.
Read funny cards at stores.
Do something for yourself every day.
When you get frustrated with someone or something -- perhaps your boss -- get a roll of toilet paper and write all the things that frustrate you on it. At the end of the week, flush all of the toilet paper that you wrote on (and your negative feelings) down the drain and out of your mind.
Draw a cartoon of your frustrating experience.
Look at the pictures on cards and think of something funny to say about the picture.
Have fun and laugh every day that ends in y.
Keep a book filled with pictures, cards, or other positive things that you can review to help lift your spirits.
Watch funny tapes. Sandra watched I love Lucy videos during her chemotherapy treatments.
Attend a comedy show. The day Sandra found out she had breast cancer she went to a comedy club and laughed the night away.
So what do you do if you find there's nothing funny to laugh about? Well, studies have shown that if you simply force yourself to laugh for several minutes you will still reap many benefits. Humor increases your body's ability to utilize oxygen and increases your immunity to infections by instantly increasing a flood of disease-fighting cells and proteins into the blood.
Can't force a laugh on your own? Try tape recording children laughing and play the tape to yourself when you need a laugh. I bet you'll at least crack a smile. Remember, it takes only 26 muscles to smile and 62 to frown.
© 2001-2006 Julie Bartkus. All Rights Reserved. Julie Bartkus is an author, speaker, consultant and coach.
For speaker availability or for information CONTACT US or call us now at 800.211.5671.