When you are smiling and laughing, you are sending a message to those around you that you are experiencing good feelings. Others are attracted to you because they want to experience the same feelings. While these short-term psychological benefits are important, laughing and smiling have long-term benefits, as well, for your physical and emotional health.
Smiling
Smiling frequently is a precursor to laughter. You experience something amusing, and you acknowledge it by smiling. As your amusement grows, you begin to laugh. Smiling also can be a way to communicate your approval of a person or situation. Because smiling is a signal of approval, people have positive feelings about you and are drawn to you. Smiling also can improve your mood. According to Cliff Kuhn, a medical doctor known as the "laugh" doctor, smiling can help elevate the mood of patients with depression. Even "fake" smiling can improve their mood, states Kuhn. Smiling is intended to supplement any prescribed treatments for depression, not replace them.
Laughing
Laughing is an effective outlet for stress and tension that can instantly improve your mood. Laughter causes the brain to release endorphins, which are chemicals that produce a sense of well-being and help you relax. In tense situations, laughter can help defuse potential conflict. Relationships thrive when the individuals involved have a good sense of humor. Your immune system is enhanced by laughter, states MayoClinic.com.
Research
The results of a study conducted at The University of Maryland Medical Center suggest that laughter has a protective effect for the heart. The study consisted of 300 participants. Half of the participants had suffered a heart attack or had gone through bypass surgery. The other 150 participants were healthy and in the same age group. The participants filled out two questionnaires. One featured multiple choice questions and the other true/false questions. The answers to the multiple choice questions were an indication of how the participants laughed in given situations. The answers to the true/false questions measured their hostility. The results of the study showed that the participants with a history of heart disease generally laughed less than the healthy group. They also showed more anger and hostility.
Improvement
It is possible to improve your sense of humor, according to MayoClinic.com. The improvement can begin when you learn to laugh at yourself. Spending time around people who make you laugh also helps you cultivate your sense of humor, as does sharing funny stories and jokes with those friends.
