Laughter Really Is the Best Medicine

Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash

When I lived in India, I walked every morning in a local park, and there were always groups of people standing in circles laughing. I later discovered that they were practicing laughter yoga, an exercise involving prolonged voluntary laughter.

Why did they spend 30 minutes every morning laughing? They were lucky to discover that laughter is one of the best ways to build resilience and improve your well-being.

There are dozens of research studies highlighting the positive physical and psychological effects of laughter. One study found that social laughter releases endorphins in the brain, promoting social bonds. Neuroscientists discovered a focal pathway in the brain that causes immediate laughter when electrically stimulated, followed by a sense of calm and happiness. Another study found that humor improved the short-term memory of older adults.

Laughter reduces stress hormones, improves oxygen flow, relaxes muscles, and strengthens the immune system. The list of benefits goes on and on. Laughter may have more physiological and psychological benefits than almost any other activity we can engage in (other than eating and sleeping).

So, outside of finding a regular laughter yoga class, how do you incorporate laughter into your life? Here are some suggestions:

Find Funny Friends

Value friends and colleagues who make you laugh. Seek out these friends when your resilience is running low.

Watch Comedy Shows

Whether you're at a comedy club or watching late-night comedy on television, watch people who make you laugh. I watch 10-15 minutes of the Daily Show when I need a good laugh.

Play With Children

Children laugh much more than adults. They love to be silly and aren't yet worried about looking stupid. Playing with children reduces inhibitions and permits us to be silly as well.

Watch a Funny Sitcom or Movie

If your resilience is running low, choose a funny sitcom or movie to watch instead of a drama.

Collect Funny YouTube Videos

If you need a quick laughter boost, watch one of your favorite funny YouTube videos. My favorite is the Dover Police DashCam Confessional (Shake It Off). Even though I’ve seen it hundreds of times, it still makes me laugh every time I watch it!

How do you incorporate laughter into your life?

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To learn more about how you and your team can thrive in adversity, check out my online Resilience Leadership course.

Why the Nationals Won the World Series

I've been a fan of the Washington Nationals for over twelve years, ever since they built their stadium a few blocks from my home. I watched them struggle in the early years, but they slowly assembled a team filled with skilled players.

Even with excellent athletes, they’d get close to greatness and then crumble under pressure.

A decade of disappointments seemed to wear the team down, and they started the 2019 season with some of their worst performances in years. Who could blame them? They'd lost star player Bryce Harper to rival Phillies, they struggled with injuries, and their bullpen was horrible.

They appeared to have settled into being a good but not great team.

Then, Gerardo Parra joined the team in May. He brought with him the magic that gave the Nationals their first championship title - joy and laughter. Parra chose Baby Shark, a silly children’s song, as his walk-up music and inspired thousands of fans to sing along. He got his teammates to dance in the bullpen and wore ridiculous glasses that made everyone laugh. Parra didn't focus on winning; he just wanted to have fun.

And, then, the Nats starting winning. They went from having the third-worst record in Major League Baseball to the third best. They won the wild-card game against the Brewers and then beat the Dodgers with a 10th-inning grand slam to win the division. They went on to slaughter the Cardinals 4 to 0 to secure the National League pennant. After losing three World Series games in a row in Washington DC, they returned to Houston and played world-class baseball.

As I watched game seven from the Nationals Stadium in D.C., I saw one of the best examples of resilience I've ever seen. The Nats trailed the Astros most of the game. In the seventh inning, they exploded with energy, making six runs in three innings to clinch the championship. 

Last week, I posted a blog on how laughter improves resilience. The Nationals showed us what merriment and silliness do for a team. If your team is struggling and you're looking for a way to boost collaboration, cohesiveness, and effectiveness, inject the group with laughter. Encourage play and light-hearted joking. If you have a team clown or two, recognize their value and encourage their silliness and childlike antics. Don't take yourselves too seriously and have fun. Play Baby Shark and dance!

Let the Washington Nationals, the 2019 World Series champions, inspire your team to greatness through the power of having fun!