There is an old Yiddish proverb that says; “What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul.” Good physical hygiene should lead us to pick up a bar of soap each day to give our bodies a thorough cleaning. Is it possible that laughter can have a cleansing, therapeutic impact on us that leaves us feeling clean at a soul level?
According to Dr. Cynthia Thaik (cardiologist), adopting a good sense of humour and expressing it through laughter can impact us in the following ways physiologically:
It protects our body from disease.
It helps our vital organs repair themselves.
It appears to have the same impact as a mild workout as it exercises the muscles, gets the blood flowing, decreases blood pressure/stress hormones, improves sleep patterns and boosts the immune system.
Scripture teaches that there are medicinal properties in good cheer! Proverbs 17:22 says in the New Living Translation, “A cheerful heart is good medicine …” It’s hard to imagine a cheerful person who never laughs or rarely smiles.
What impact can a good sense of humour have on us personally and on our relationships?
We will be more attractive to others. If you had the opportunity to be around someone who smiled often and found it natural to find the humorous side of life, versus someone who rarely smiled or laughed – who would you rather spend time with? Enough said!
We will walk more lightly in life. Life is hard, no question about it! There can be some incredibly serious and difficult seasons in life that are not to be minimized. Finding the light-hearted and fun parts of life and squeezing every moment of laughter from them can empower us emotionally for the challenging times that lie ahead!
We will take ourselves less seriously. Laughing at ourselves is a gift. When a family or a friend experiences something funny together, it creates a connection. Self-deprecating humour is a win for everyone!! Creating a family culture that includes laughter makes life more enjoyable for everyone!
If life is serious for you right now and you struggle to find the lighter side of life – do yourself a favor and watch these babies laugh—I can guarantee you’ll crack a smile!
I have found being around funny people is life-giving! We have some comedians coming to King Street on Sunday February 10that 7:30 pm that will be sure to make you laugh. It should be a fun night and a great opportunity to connect with someone you care about! You can buy your ticket here.
Laughter is like glue— it connects people together!
—Dave Larmour