The Power of the Giggle!
Your sense of humor is one of the most powerful tools you have to make certain that your daily mood and emotional state support good health.
~ Paul E. McGhee, Ph.D.
Practical jokes have always been on high rotation in my house.I’m not sure where it came from, but I must say my mum (who is actually not my birth mother) is quite the same. There is something to be said for nurture over nature. Whether it’s pouring the left over chocolate mousse on the toilet seat and calling my husband in because I’ve had an explosive bowel movement (yes you did just read that correctly), or taking the lid off the sugar and setting my iPhone to film whilst he makes his coffee, the truth is I just love a good laugh. Now, before you all start feeling sorry for him, he is quite capable of returning the favour.
Laughter is medicine for the soul, whether it’s a practical joke that gets you laughing, a funny movie or just a good laugh with a girlfriend. So, my question to you is; what makes you laugh? What gives you that giggle? FIND IT and make it part of your life. Yes, I’m sure you are far too mature to pull any practical jokes but ask yourself what makes you laugh. Is it a funny movie!? Make it movie night every Friday night and always get a comedy! Identify it and schedule it.
I was recently reading some health benefits on the power of laughter and it blew my mind. Here are just a few:
A GOOD, HEARTY LAUGH RELIEVES PHYSICAL TENSION AND STRESS, LEAVING YOUR MUSCLES RELAXED FOR UP TO 45 MINUTES AFTER. YES 45 MINUTES!!
LAUGHTER DECREASES STRESS HORMONES AND INCREASES IMMUNE CELLS AND INFECTION-FIGHTING ANTIBODIES.
LAUGHTER TRIGGERS THE RELEASE OF ENDORPHINS, THE BODY’S NATURAL FEEL-GOOD CHEMICALS. ENDORPHINS PROMOTE AN OVERALL SENSE OF WELL-BEING“ THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT ALSO RELEASE ENDORPHINS. :-)
LAUGHTER PROTECTS THE HEART. LAUGHTER IMPROVES THE FUNCTION OF BLOOD VESSELS AND INCREASES BLOOD FLOW, WHICH CAN HELP PROTECT YOU AGAINST A HEART ATTACK.
OK I DIDN’T READ THIS ONE BUT AFTER A GOOD LAUGHING SESSION WITH A GIRLFRIEND, MY ABS FEEL GREAT! EASY WAY TO GET AN EXTRA WORKOUT IN..OR JUST WORKOUT.
So friends, I leave you with these….just a couple of my faves¦..why? Well why not! ENJOY!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zce-QT7MGSE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=DWynJkN5HbQ