Laughter

Laughter

Norman Cousins suffered from an illness that often left him in searing pain. However, he discovered a natural way to address it.

He realized that laughter releases endorphins, a natural painkiller and pleasure inducer, and that as little as ten minutes of strong belly laughter could give him as much as two hours of pain-free sleep.

It is said that laughter is the result of a collision between what we expect and what we don’t. Outrageous behavior, uncomfortable situations, a joke that sends us in one direction and, with a punch line, sends us reeling in another direction.

Laughter is a natural response to what seems outrageous or impossible. And isn’t that often what you face in daily life?

The very challenges and absurdities you face are often no different than some ridiculous comedy sketch. Laughter is simply a way to release yourself from the burden of mastering life’s absurdities.

So have a good laugh. Like Norman Cousins, you may find freedom from the pain.

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. —Proverbs 17:22