Laughter is the Best (Happiness) Medicine
On our journey toward greater happiness, sometimes the best “interventions” are so simple that we can easily overlook them.
When was the last time you laughed? I mean really laughed. Not just had a little chuckle, but laughed until your sides hurt. There’s an old saying “Laughter is the best medicine” and though I don’t know who said it first1, he or she must have been a very wise person.
It’s true that laughter has the ability to heal, so as we’re gathering up tools in our Happiness Toolbox, we need to put Laughter in an accessible place. It’s another tool, like a Notecard Gratitude, that we can pull out when we need a “quick win” to improve our mood or to help pull us out of a dark place.
There is plenty of scientific evidence that laughter is good for us both emotionally and physically, but I’ll not present any of that evidence here. I suspect that you have experienced the benefits directly so you probably don’t need a lecture on what’s happening in your body to be convinced to laugh.
What I’d like to focus on instead is HOW to get you to laugh. Who or what makes you laugh? Is there a particular type of comedy that you enjoy? Do you have favorite movies, TV shows, or standup comedians that you consistently find amusing?
I asked my friends for their list of favorite people and media that makes them laugh and this is what they came up with2:
Favorite Standup Comedians
Tim Allen
George Carlin
John Cleese
Dane Cook
Ellen Degeneres
Craig Ferguson
Jim Gaffigan
Ricky Gervais
Andy Kindler
Mitch Hedberg
Jake Johansen
Mark Lowry
Steve Martin
The Marx Brothers
Colin Mochrie
Monty Python
Brian Regan
Bob Saget
Jerry Seinfeld
Ryan Stiles
Daniel Tosh
Ron White
Robin Williams
Steven Wright
Also listed was “Dry Bar Comedy” which is a series of different comedians that focus on humor that is “funny for everyone.”
Humorous TV Shows
“Cunk on Earth” (as well as, the other “Philomena Cunk on …” series)
Humorous Books
Humorous Authors
Humorous Movies
Humorous Music
“Baby Monkey” and “Hampster on a Piano”
Check Them Out!
Explore at least one or two of the above that are unfamiliar to you. Who knows… you might discover a new favorite!
Make your own lists and keep a copy handy so you can refer to it when you need a happiness boost. Keep adding to the list when you think of old favorites or when you encounter new ones. Keep lists of humorous suggestions from friends so you can explore new material when you have free time.
Other Ideas
Besides books, movies, TV shows, and stand up, there are other ways to incorporate laughter into your day:
Play with Little Kids
Have you ever played with little kids? Most kids know instinctively how to laugh and will do so as often as possible. We seem to forget how to laugh as we age3, so observe children at play and see how they bring laughter into their lives. If you can, get on their level and ask them how to play. Find out how to be a kid again, even if only for a few minutes.
Laughter Yoga
I have not tried it myself, but I’ve heard that Laughter Yoga can provide health benefits. You can search for a Meetup group near you or do-it-yourself at home. There’s even an international organization that promotes the practice.
Social Media
There are social media groups for just about anything you can imagine. Here are a few that I found amusing:
The Punitentiary on Facebook
Programmer Humor on Reddit
Cats with Jobs on Reddit
What I like about using social media for humor is that the funny bits scroll past randomly and make me laugh when I’m not even thinking about it. Having humor built into an activity that I already do ensures that I’ll participate, even when I forget.
Shitty Flute
The other day I stumbled upon a Reddit thread called “Shitty Flute Covers.” It’s mostly people playing recorders badly and I was surprised at how much some of the videos made me laugh.
For my Star Trek fan friends, I recommend “Spock’s Funeral.”
The Reddit thread led me to a YouTube channel called “shittyflute,” which has some real gems. Not to be missed is Schubert’s “Ave Maria.” I was also able to find a fantastic version of “Happy Birthday” for my boyfriend’s birthday. Search for your own favorite shitty flute tunes. The joy of shitty flute music is endless! :)
Keep Laughing!
What are some uncommon ways in which we might be able to laugh to improve well-being? Can you think of others besides what I’ve suggested? If so, respond to this newsletter and tell me about your ideas.4
Perhaps most importantly of all, just remember that life isn’t nearly as serious as we sometimes make it. Rather than be upset when things go “wrong,” can you find the humor in everyday life? If we can learn to laugh at ourselves, we’ll always have something to laugh about. ;)
Some have suggested that the famous quote is based on Proverbs 17:22 of the Bible which, in the King James version, read “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.”
Some of my favorites are also included in these lists. :)
Actually, we have it “taught” out of us by our socialization. Most of us become too stiff and serious in adulthood. If we’re lucky, though, we realize this and begin to laugh again as we grow older.
If you’re reading this in your email inbox, just hit “reply” as you would for any other email. Otherwise, you can use tinarenee@substack.com to send me your ideas.