Laugh to live longer

By Professional Life & Relationship Counsellor, Joris Plu

Charlie Chaplin once said that a day without laughter is a day wasted. I suggest you read this again and don’t just try it, but do it every day. Make it your habit to laugh at least once a day.

Start with a little smile… If you have somehow lost your capacity for spontaneous laughter, start with a simple smile. Smile to yourself in the mirror. Smile at others around you. Laughter doesn’t come easily to everyone, but luckily the body can’t actually distinguish between real and fake laughter. So faking it has the same beneficial effect. 

Laughing with oneself has a healing effect. It is said that Shakespeare himself wrote that laughing at your own mistakes can prolong your life.

Laughter benefits the body and soul in many ways: 

• Boosts your immune system 

• Reduces Blood pressure and anxiety

• Relieves pain

• Burns Calories. Yes, laughter it’s the best work out!, not only for our lungs.

• Increases serotonin and endorphins in our brains 

• Relaxes muscles and eases tension in the body 

• Reduces the stress hormones in the body and eases feelings of depression 

• Increases connection with others

• Boosts mood and confidence

Do you need another reason to laugh? 

Spread the word of laughter! Make it your daily commitment to add laughter in your life and to put laughter in the life of the people you interact with each day. See and feel how all those lives will change for the better. 

Drive in your car and start laughing out loud. Let people see you laughing. Some of them will start laughing to! How wonderful is that. You can make someone happy (and yourself) without even speaking one word. 

Teach your brain what happiness is, what laughter does to your brain.

www.jorisplu.com