Sadness, loss, stress, pain, defeat and other negative situations are all part of life. You cannot live without ever feeling any of these emotions. It is not evading them that counts, it’s how you deal with them.

And one of the BEST ways to deal with anything negative is laughter. It’s said that you have not lived a day if you have not laughed and I truly believe that.

The health benefits of laughter.

1. It calms you. A hearty laugh gets rid of body tension and stress, relaxing your body for a good 30-45 minutes after wards!
2. It makes your immune system happy. Laughter lowers the  hormones that cause stress while boosting the ones that enable your body to fight diseases.
3. Just like exercising… laughter releases of endorphins. Endorphins are your bodies own ‘feel-good’ chemical. When released, it advances feelings of happiness and overall well-being. This is why even if you don’t want to exercise at the start, you tend to feel darn good after doing your fitness routine anyway.
4. A good hearty laugh keeps the blood healthily flowing. Ever noticed how you laugh? Your sides move up and down, your mouth pulls at both ends, your jaw muscles tighten, your head bobs up and down, and so on. All these movements increase blood flow all over your body, which in turn protect you against heart problems.

Quick ways to find something to laugh about.

1. Watch a comedy movie or TV show.
2. Look at quirky family pictures/videos.
3. Call a friend who always makes you laugh.
4. Read a book of jokes (or go online and find some).
5. Read today’s newspaper comic strip.

And on this note, I leave you with a Cyanide and Happiness comic courtesy of Explosm.net