Laugh a little more because laughter is very healthy; it also reduces stress. Medical professionals agree laughter is very therapeutic. There are a number of physical benefits when you laugh.

So, yes, it’s really true, “a merry heart does good like a medicine.” That statement has been in the Bible for centuries and some people even know it by heart. But do you know the rest of the verse?

“A merry heart does good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones.”

When you’re happy, cheerful and laugh, it is healthy for you, but when you’re discouraged, sad, and down, it is really just the opposite.

Amazing things happen in our bodies when we laugh. Here are some things that modern science has concluded about laughter:

• It activates and strengthens the immune system.
• It reduces at least four hormones associated with stress.
• It provides a workout for the diaphragm and increases the body’s ability to use oxygen.
• It relaxes the muscles.
• It can reduce pain for periods of time.
• It lowers blood pressure and can prevent hypertension.
• It improves respiration by emptying the lungs completely of the air they take in.

Those and other facts are pretty impressive. And guess what? Unlike all the medication ads you see on TV, laughter has no negative side effects.  I saw one the other day for a pill that promised to give you a good night’s sleep. But then, of course, came the warning about the possibility of eight or ten very negative side effects! You know, that’s almost laughable!

It’s very healthy to laugh every day. I’m not talking about laughing at the cynical, unloving type of humor that puts people down. I’m talking about genuinely funny things that make us laugh.

Now That’s Funny…I Think!

We’re all different. Some things might make you laugh while other things might make me laugh. And there are things that might make us both laugh. Wanna try it?

I heard of a sign at a truckstop in Indiana that reads: “Eat here, and get gas!”  How about the bumper sticker that says, “Honk if you love peace and quiet.” Or, from the picture above, “Chuck Norris caught all the Poleman from a landline.”

Some things are funny to some people, but not funny to others. But we all need to find something that makes us laugh on a regular basis. I have several movies I watch from time to time just for a good laugh.

And why not brighten someone else’s day by sharing something funny. You don’t have to be a professional stand-up comedian to offer a little stress relief to others.

We all encounter unpleasant things in our day to day life. The world seems crazy and life can often be too serious, but not so serious that you can’t stop and have a good laugh on a regular basis. Find some time each day to laugh a little more.

“A merry heart does good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones.”