It was a Wednesday evening, and I was stuck in traffic on my way to facilitate a laughter wellness session for university students. As I watched the minutes tick on the car clock, I couldn’t help but feel stressed and anxious about the possibility of showing up late, which is something I always try to avoid. I knew I had to calm down, but with all the frustrated drivers and honking cars around me, it hit me: Laughter. I regularly promote the effect of laughter as a tool to see things from a lighter perspective; I realized that this was my chance to practice what I preach, so I started laughing.
Laughter has been recognized as the best natural mood booster as it triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, which reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. It also helps boost the immune system, improves cardiovascular health, and enhances cognitive function. These physical benefits of laughter are just the beginning of its power.
As someone who started facilitating laughter sessions as a fun and entertaining way to handle stress, I have come to appreciate the transformative power of laughter. Through my studies of laughter in depth, I have learned that fun and enjoyment are just the tip of the iceberg, and right beneath that, laughter is a powerful tool for building resilience.
When faced with adversities, resilience is the ability to endure and deal with a challenge and withstand the burdens of life without being crushed. Also, resilience is the ability to recover or bounce back to the same energy level or even higher when faced with a setback. It is the ability to thrive and grow in the face of challenges because you learn from your experience and, as a result, grow and become even stronger and more resilient.
But how can laughter strengthen resilience?
Laughter is a powerful tool for building resilience because it helps us cultivate positive emotions and makes us feel good mentally and physically in the present moment. When we feel good, we are better equipped to make sound decisions and approach problems rationally and objectively. Ultimately, feeling good can help us navigate difficult situations more quickly, allowing us to overcome obstacles and achieve our goals.
Back to my car on Wednesday evening, and after 3 minutes of laughing, nothing changed; I was still surrounded by honking cars and frustrated drivers, and the clock was still ticking. However, I felt different, a bit calmer, and less anxious. I looked at myself in the mirror and smiled; laughter worked.
