Motivational Speaker Jody Urquhart- Laughter Report

Have you had your LAUGH Today?

The Benefits of Laughing

By: Jody Urquhart

Deep laughter lowers our levels of stress hormones, raises our pain threshold, increases our ability to fight upper respiratory diseases, relaxes muscles and reduces anxiety. Cracking up even has cardiovascular benefits! Studies done at Stanford University found that a two-minute belly laugh is equal to 10 minutes on a rowing machine in terms of boosting the heart rate.

The good news is that anybody can use laughter as therapy. There are no limitations in how often it's done, and there's no cost involved. How's that for motivation? It doesn't even have to be a real laugh -the body doesn't know the difference. If you start by pretending to laugh, the body takes over and you start genuinely laughing. The following is only a partial list of the benefits of laughing:

Laughter takes the focus off your problems and puts your focus on a positive emotion.

Laughing invokes feelings of happiness and joy, instead of gloom and doom.

It’s easier to think creatively around a problem when the mind is lighter from laughter.

Shared laughter promotes bonding and unity within the group.

Laughter also opens the door to more real and risky communication.

Laughter is not the same as humor, it is the result of humor. Laughter is the physiological response to humor. A sense of humor helps us gain a fuller and more realistic perspective of the world.  Humor can dramatically change the quality and outlook of our lives. Humor is an easy way to get in touch with your feelings, and control those emotions in difficult situations.

 Laughing makes us feel good for a reason. The physiological effects on our body do some pretty amazing stunts. For instance:

• Laughter appears to reduce levels of certain Stress Hormones
• Laughter boosts the Immune System and Lowers Blood Pressure
• Laughter may lead to hiccupping and coughing, which will clear the respiratory tract by dislodging mucus plugs
• Laughter gives your diaphragm and abdominal, respiratory and facial, leg and back muscles a workout
• There also has been some belief that laughter may help prevent some life-threatening diseases  

Laugh because it puts you in the present, instead of focusing on the future.

Laugh because it feels good to laugh, not because the joke was necessarily funny.

Laugh when everything goes wrong instead of getting upset and you learn to deal with negative things in a positive way.  You will be in control of your responses instead of letting the situation control you.

Taking a lighter approach is a lifestyle choice. It is the goal of this newsletter to help you do just that. Every article is quick and compelling to read and is a reminder to lighten up.

Why you need to Laugh More

Humor alleviates stress and tension.

Fun improves communication.

Fun eases conflict.

Laughter can help us survive.  Literally.

Laughing at yourself is the highest form of humor.

Laughter has a natural healing power.

Humor helps lighten the load.

Fun unites people - it builds bridges.

Fun breaks up boredom and fatigue.

Fun creates energy.

Quick things you can do to lighten up…

When something makes you angry… smile, just because. You are teaching yourself to respond positively to a negative situation.

Laugh at yourself at least a couple times a day.  You're worth it!

Adjust your expectations.

Blow it out of proportion… whatever the challenge exaggerate it to see the humor in it and balance your perspective.

Give people the benefit of the doubt. Stop ruining your day over a friend giving you the cold shoulder (it probably has nothing to do with you).

Fast facts

Hearty laughter speeds up the heart rate, improves blocked circulation, accelerates breathing and increases oxygen consumption.

Laughing for 15 seconds adds two days to your life span, and if you're laughing, they're good days!

Laughing 100 times a day is equal to a 10-minute session of rowing. So, why sweat when you can laugh?

It takes 3 muscles to smile and 50 muscles to frown, but there is no cardiovascular benefit to frowning so you may as well laugh!