Monday, March 2, 2009

LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE!!!!


Times seem to be a little rough for everyone right now. Although we all may be battling a variety of different situations, i have found that in this moment "Laughter is Truly The best Medicine" for whatever it is you may be going through.


Personally, I have my "up and down" moments just like anyone else. I also struggle with finance, romance, academics, health, fitness, family, career, and even spirituality. Fortunately, I have found out that laughter through any trial seems to put me back into a positive state of mind.


Studies also show that Humor Therapy has various benefits with the mind, body, and spirit:


1. Manage your hormones.


Laughter reduces the level of stress hormones like cortisol, epinephrine, adrenaline, dopamine and growth hormone. It also increases the level of health-enhancing hormones like endorphins, and neurotransmitters. Laughter increases the number of antibody-producing cells and enhances the efficiency of T-cells. All this means a stronger immune system, as well as fewer physical effects of stress.


2.Nice internal workout

A good belly laugh exercises the diaphragm, contracts the abs and even works out the shoulders, leaving muscles more relaxed afterward. It even provides a good workout for the heart. Laughing 100 times is the equivalent to 10 minutes on the rowing machine or 15 minutes on an exercise bike!


3.Physical release

Have you ever felt like you had to laugh or you’d cry? Have you experienced the cleansed feeling after a good laugh? Laughter provides a physical and emotional release


4.Positive frame of mind.

Laughter brings the focus away from anger, guilt, stress and negative emotions to them alongside other “mere distractions.” It will make you cheerful and put you in a positive frame of mind.


5.Change your perspective.

Researchers found that our response to stressful events can be altered by whether we view something as a “threat” or a “challenge.” Humor can give us a more light-hearted perspective and help us view events as “challenges,” thereby making them less threatening and more positive.


6. Social benefits of laughter

Laughter is contagious, so if you bring more laughter into your life, you can most likely help others around you laugh more. By elevating the mood of those around you, you can diminish their stress levels, and possibly improve the quality of social interaction you experience with them, reducing your stress level even more!
What’s even better is that the more you smile, the more others will too. Seeing a smile creates what is termed as a “halo effect,” helping us to remember other happy events more vividly, feel more optimistic, more positive and more motivated.


7.Fight illness better


People who are optimistic (who are out there laughing!) have stronger immune systems and are actually able to fight off illness better than pessimists.
The research is very clear — this is not some social science generalization — there is a link between optimistic attitudes and good health. And it has been measured in a variety of ways. Overall, scientists have found that optimistic people are healthier. Their biological makeup is different and they have a more robust immune system.


So Grab your girls, an old eddie murphy classic, and laugh it up (it will make you feel much better)..


Your Bill may still be due, homework will still need to be done, alarm will still go off at 6am for you to get ready for work, but at least you know you're not alone and we will all laugh about it later:-)




6 comments:

  1. Love this!!
    And you look gawjuss in that pic!
    Yes I spelled gorgeous like that!
    LOL!

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  2. Hey missy! Girl I needed that today. Mondays can be rough if you let it...and unfortunately I let it creep on me. But, I just shook that thang there off me! Thanks for the laughter and for infecting us with love on this day.

    And I love the pic...you look so pritty...and happy!

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  3. @Glamstarr & Buttafly
    Thank you lovely ladies for the compliments. it's means a lotcoming from to incredibly beautiful sistas like you two:-)

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  4. Jenna, hate to tell ya but #1 is totally false. Take it from an old lady....nothing controls hormones once you past 35....gasp! But, seriously, these are good things to keep in mind. I'm tired of all the negativity in the world these days.

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  5. Hi Jenna, thanks for a great well-presented post. You have stated it all so perfectly. Here's to wishing that your Caramel Kisses are savored to the utmost!

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  6. @curvy girl... lol...i refuse to believe that you are a day older than me andI am 26...and if you are, i need to know what kind of miracle milk that you have been drinking...because you look good :-)

    @Jim...thanks so much!! that was very kind of you!!!

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