I went to the vault and found this post from a while back. Laughter is timeless, so I thought I'd share it again...
We hear a lot of talk in health circles about the importance of white blood cell counts, sugar counts, counting calories, and so on. But when was the last time you checked your laugh count?
The folks at Teamsugar.com indicate that children laugh approximately 400 times a day, while adults laugh about 15 times a day. For the adult in the people-helping field, this indicates an epidemic. We've got to increase our laugh count!
What laughter does
According to Psychology Today and Howstuffworks.com, laughter...
- Establishes (or restores) a positive emotional climate between two people
- Defuses anger and anxiety
- Paves the path to intimacy
- Helps us cope with major illness and stresses of life
- Provides a safety valve that shuts off the flow of stress hormones (which are known to suppress the immune system)
- Releases natural killer cells that destroy tumors and viruses
- Is equal to 10 minutes on the rowing machine or 15 minutes on an exercise bike (if you laugh 100 times)
- Provides a way for stored negative emotions (anger sadness and fear) to be harmlessly released
How to increase your laugh count
- Reconnect with what makes you laugh - then engage in it (a movie, that joke book that's collecting dust in your basement, etc.).
- Identify the funny people you know - then spend more time with them.
- Memorize a joke a day and make a commitment to share it with someone.
- Fake it. Just start laughing for no apparent reason (you might want to do this when you're alone in the car or something).
- Smile. Simply change your expression.
- Give yourself permission to laugh. Even though the needs are all around us, laughter is still an emotion God gave us for a reason. Laughter is a legitimate and healthy activity. Don't add guilt to your laughter.
Related Post: Humorosity
What makes you laugh?
Laughter IS the best medicine ... but that really bummed me out, the 400:15 ratio btwn kids and adults laughing! Fortunately I'll be hanging out with some people who make me laugh today, so I'll be upping my laugh count.
Posted by: AC | May 29, 2010 at 09:31 AM
Spend time with kids on their level. Watch my post called Humorosity. Kids are the key. They haven't let go of the wonder of life.
Posted by: Scott Couchenour | May 29, 2010 at 05:15 PM
Hey Scooter(Scott) ... Now that you mention it, it has made me think ... hmmmmm, I haven't laughed in a while. As I'm writing this, I am pondering on the fact that I have been taking things to seriously so to speak. Yes, Jesus and serving HIM is serious, I'm not talking about that, I'm talking about just enjoying the day, enjoying the weather, enjoying good company and just laughing and smiling. We get to busy on doing the work of this ministry that we forget to laugh. I'm going to work on this. I think we can be serious and laugh at the same time. Great post Scooter!
Posted by: Joey Basta | November 10, 2010 at 05:20 PM
Joey - you just gotta laugh now and then. It's amazing what it does for our physical well-being and overall outlook. It's quite simple to do what you're saying (enjoying the weather, good company, etc.). It's that sort of thing that actually FUELS our ministry to God (in my humble opinion).
Thanks for sharing, man.
Posted by: Scott Couchenour | November 11, 2010 at 08:20 AM
Hi Scott Couchenour,
I also agree with you that we should increase our laugh count! Because this is very good for our health.
Posted by: bloggerlisa | November 19, 2017 at 03:17 AM