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But Seriously Folks…The Power of Laughter for Emotional Health by Vicki Tillman, M.A., L.P.C.

I need to ask you:

Where do you find chili beans?

At the North Pole.

Why can’t penguins fly?

They’re too short to be pilots.

What happens when frogs park illegally?

They get toad.

Hopefully you feel better already…What’s funny about all this is that laughter really IS good for you. Here are some things that happen to you when you laugh:

–       Your body releases endorphins. Endorphins are chemicals that reduce pain and increase happy feelings.

–       Your body reduces stress hormones (you feel less stressed-out).

–       Your body boosts immune function.

–       Your muscles relax.

–       Oxygen levels in your body increase (good for stress relief).

The combination of all those things has the effect, at least temporarily, of feeling better- emotionally and physically.

Hey, even

thinking

about watching a funny movie before you watch it, starts the benefits (research by Berk at Loma Linda University 2006 noted this).

Not only that- at the workplace, folks who are having fun tend to be more creative, productive, get along better with others, have less absenteeism than those who are serious all the time, according to a study done by Abrams at California State University- Long Beach.

So, how about a good pun or a silly movie? And what I really want to know is:

How can you tell if an elephant’s been in the refrigerator?

 

Resources: http://Micro.magnet.fsu.edu, www.workplaceissues.com,www.holisticonline.com,

www.

jokesclean.com

,

www.corsinet.com

Take the next step. Call for an appointment.