There is a lot of truth to the old saying, “Laughter is the best medicine.” Laughing makes you feel good, head to toe, and there is scientific evidence that it has powerful health benefits. According to the About.com stress management blog, laughter:
• Reduces stress hormones and increases health-enhancing hormones, protecting your body from stress and illness
• Provides a release for emotions
• Gives your abs, shoulders, diaphragm and heart a good workout
• Distracts you from negative emotions and gives you a good dose of perspective
• Benefits the moods of others around you
There is even a movement called Laughter Yoga, which has spawned more than 6,000 laughter clubs worldwide and encourages people to “laugh for no reason” and recapture childlike playfulness. A great article in Yoga Journal gives a firsthand account of Laughter Yoga and explores some of the science behind laughter’s medicine:
… a handful of scientists began researching the healing power of laughter.
One of them was William Fry, then a psychiatrist at Stanford University. In a career that spanned more than 50 years, Fry documented some of the health benefits of what he calls “mirthful laughter.” In a series of studies, Fry and his colleagues found that laughter increases circulation, stimulates the immune system, exercises the muscles, and even invigorates the brain. Other researchers have found that laughter reduces stress hormones and may even help prevent heart disease.
4 Laughter Journal Writing Prompts
How often do you laugh? When was the last time you guffawed so hard your belly hurt? Take a look at your giggling habits with these fun, lighthearted journal writing prompts.
1. What can always make you laugh, even when you are having a frustrating day? Do you turn to YouTube videos, board games, slapstick comedies or your pets when you need laughter in your day? Make a list of your go-to sources of laughter.
2. Who are the people in your life who consistently crack you up? Your spouse, your best friend, your little sister? Write down the top five people you turn to when you need a good chuckle, and recount one story that illustrates each person’s sense of humor.
3. What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you? Choose a story you can barely tell out loud without convulsing with laughter, and write it in your journal.
4. What is your favorite funny movie or television show (something you can watch over and over and laugh every time)? Give an example of what makes it so hilarious.
What did you write in response to one of these journal writing prompts? Share your comments!
Need some more, like 114 Journal Writing Prompts? Check this out.
If you want to learn how journaling can help you tackle life's challenges and focus on the positives in your life, please download the free eBook, The Journaling Guide to Manage The Stress and Strains of Life.
Leave Comment