Laughter: Potent Medicine

Laughter brightens our spirits and lightens our burdens.

Caregiving is a serious matter, but a good giggle or a hearty guffaw provides relief from everyday tension and stress.

Laughter will not stop the progression of a disease or change a diagnosis. At times we can’t find anything amusing while caring for someone else. Yet laughter acts as potent medicine, soothing difficult times and brightening the dreariness of daily chores.

How can we build laughter and joy into our day? Watch a funny movie. Or a classic sitcom like I Love Lucy. Keep a gratitude journal or a joy jar. Deliberately enjoy ordinary occurrences such as savoring a cup of tea. Read funny comic strips and silly greeting cards. Even the simple act of smiling can boost our spirits.

Laughter builds inner strength for dealing with life’s challenges. With all its physical and psychological benefits, a sense of humor is not just a crutch or an escape. Finding joy in the mundane, absurd, or incongruous is essential for positive physical and mental health.

Let yourself laugh. Intentionally build moments of delight into every day. A sense of humor is a gift from God, a divine blessing that paints the mundane tasks with colorful joy. God created humor. He promises to fill our mouths with laughter and our lips with shouts of joy.