Humor is an antidote to many ills, without it life would be gray and dull. And there are two points about humor that I want to clarify, one is quantity and the other is quality. The first, like an antidote that can be the remedy for an illness if used in the right quantity, can also turn into a poison if used excessively; just like an antidote, humor has to be used in a moderate and healthy way. Furthermore, there are various types of humor, and I'm not referring here to those used with the intention of offending and disrespecting people. I'm referring here to intelligent, creative, positive, relaxed and thought-provoking humor. That said, here are 14 reasons to have a good laugh:
1. memento mori
The only certainty in life is death. Sooner or later we will all die. It's not about the end, because we all know that one day it will inevitably come. So it's essentially about two things: whether it was worth it and how many regrets we will leave behind. For me, there is no greater motivation than Memento Mori, which is to think about my own death, my physical end. Memento Mori opens my eyes to a perception of life that is, paradoxically, much more expansive and abundant. The main question is: in the end, what will really matter? The answer depends on the person and is answered according to each person's values, but not infrequently the answer changes with the stages of life. So, regardless of the answer, we can agree that, in the end, very few things will matter, right? Far fewer things than we worry about on a daily basis. So why do we care so much about such small, trivial things? That's why we should laugh at ourselves and at embarrassing and even difficult situations, because when we laugh we automatically remember that it won't matter in the final days and therefore doesn't deserve our concern.
2. Laughter is medicine
Laughter is literally and chemically medicine for your body. In the short term, laughing releases endorphins in your brain that increase oxygen intake, activates and relieves the stress response, increases and decreases heart rate and blood pressure producing a good, relaxed feeling, stimulates circulation, helps with muscle relaxation. In the long term, it helps immunity, relieves pain, helps the body produce its own natural painkillers, burns calories (have you ever felt tired from laughing?), strengthens your resilience, improves your mood and self-esteem. These are all great reasons to take laughter more seriously, aren't they?
3. Humor helps us get through adversity and changes our perspective
Nothing lasts so long that it can't be solved or transformed, and we can do that through humor. As Charles Chaplin once said, "Life is a tragedy when seen up close, but a comedy when seen from afar." That's why, when everything we try goes wrong, all we can do is laugh. Humor has this power to broaden our perspective, see things from a wider angle and take the absoluteness out of problems. So, when nothing makes sense anymore, when we find ourselves without hope, when life gets painful and tiring, we still have humor to change the lenses through which we view a given situation. It's a way of reframing the pessimistic and depressing narrative that takes over when everything is going wrong. Laughing using our imagination, however, doesn't mean that it will improve the situation itself, but it does help us to navigate the storms of life.
4. Laughter as a form of authenticity
Often the judgment we make of someone is the same judgment we make of ourselves. Judgments come from the limits imposed on ourselves when we see the other person allowing themselves to do something that we don't allow ourselves to do, but deep down we want to do the same. Others are reflections of our own existence, our deepest desires and our fears and insecurities. People who judge themselves and other people less (I don't know if it's possible to never judge, maybe if you're a monk) and laugh at themselves more are more in line with their authenticity and accept who they are. They don't fight the natural force of being within them and use laughter as a genuine form of self-expression.
5. Laughing, playing and having fun are the greatest form of gratitude
What better way to enjoy life than by playing, laughing and having fun? Anyone who has seen "Life is Beautiful" knows what I'm talking about. Everything, even the heaviest things, become lighter when we positively and imaginatively resignify the situations around us. Unfortunately, at some point in our lives we lose the innocence, genuineness and spontaneity we had when we were children. I think this is one of the reasons people like to be around children, because somehow they remind us of the light side of being we once were. Children are more connected to the matrix force of life. We learn to carry the weight of outside expectations at a very early age and as a result we lose our naturalness and simplicity. That's why rescuing and bringing these values into adulthood, living in a playful, laughing and joyful way is for me the greatest and fullest expression of gratitude one can have in life.
6. Humor is the most delicious way to relieve stress
That muscle tension, the pounding heart, the frown, the dry mouth, the headache, the stomach ache, the sweating - all those symptoms of stress that take hold of us disappear in a flash when you laugh at something. As mentioned above, laughter has the great benefit of relieving stress. Laughter is therapeutic and medicinal for stress management.
7. It's the best way to be genuinely present
Stop to think about a time when you were genuinely laughing at something and thinking about something else (like the grocery list) at the same time. Did you manage it? Difficult? Well, that's because when we're engaged in the funny thing and we're having a good time letting out a laugh, no matter whether alone or with others, we're necessarily present in that moment. Laughing isn't like other tasks that you can do while thinking about other things, either you're there experiencing so and so laughter or you're not laughing, instead you're doing something else.
8. Develops creativity and adaptability
Humor can be synonymous with emotional and verbal intelligence, because to have a good sense of humor you need a combination of self-awareness, resourcefulness, confidence, spontaneity and fluidity. And to make use of good humor, we need to develop our creativity. And creativity is intrinsically linked to our ability to adapt.
9. Humor is sexy
Knowing a humorous person automatically makes them attractive, even if they're not physically impressive. It's the pathway to our attention and our curiosity to find out more about the person. It's indisputable that a good-natured person makes you feel good and present, which is why being with such a person makes life lighter and more interesting. And some people say that good humor is more than sexy, it's an aphrodisiac.
10. Makes you a better person and a good person
Our actions bring results to life all the time. The way we face each situation is fundamental in determining the consequences of our actions. When we carry out our tasks smiling, we inspire better feelings and behaviors in ourselves and in others.
11. It's the best way to connect with others
One of the best things about life is sharing a laugh with the most dear and beloved people in your life. Laughter connects us on a high level, because humor, technically speaking, is the breaking of a mental pattern that surprises us by making us feel better than the initial state. Our brain is designed to see patterns in everything we do, see and hear, it's a machine that looks for parameters every second, and when we laugh at something it's because this pattern-seeking mechanism is broken by the surprise of an unexpected response. So when we're laughing with other people, we're breaking down this mechanism in our brain so that we have a positive perception, consequently feeling a good sensation in our body and creating an intimate bond with people.
12. Laughing at yourself is self-compassion
Humor is an instrument of self-compassion. It takes away the weight we carry when we judge ourselves. Laughing at yourself is an excellent remedy for strengthening our resilience. And it's an exercise that can be learned by anyone, it's not exclusive to anyone. Humor breaks patterns such as when we are obsessively thinking about something and changes our perception of the situation. And as mentioned above, humor also creates an intimate bond with our own person. Self-compassion is nothing more than recognizing that imperfection is part of our human experience and, therefore, in order to have self-compassion, it is essential to develop self-acceptance. Think of treating yourself the same way you treat your best friend, or imagine if you were your best friend, because there is no other person you will see, feel, hear and talk to more during your entire life than yourself! It is therefore extremely important to develop our self-compassion.
13. Humor has functions that reason itself does not know about
But, considering humor as a life value and a skill that can be learned, no one would say that finding things funny is important - which in fact it is. Humor, being an emotion, performs functions that escape our reason. Firstly, the act of laughing is a form of communication. In fact, evolution developed laughter as a way of indicating to others that we find something funny. Secondly, sharing funny stories plays a crucial role in forming meaningful social bonds. Thirdly, humor performs the remarkable function of easing life and softening tense situations.
How about you? Have you laughed and smiled today? =)