Surely you've heard the old adage that laughter is the best medicine. Unbeknownst to many, that saying comes from the Bible! Proverbs 17:22. And that's no joke. A merry heart really does a body, soul and spirit good like medicine.

A person's attitude affects his outlook on life and even his health. If he is joyful, negative circumstances don't knock him off balance and cause him to despair. Over the centuries, medicine has become more and more aware of the influence a person's happiness has on their overall health.

In contrast, being mentally beaten down leads to the physical symptoms of severe depression.

Benefits Of Laughter

There are mental, emotional, and physical benefits of joy and laughter. It has been scientifically proven that laughter plays a role in fighting viruses, bacteria, cancer and heart disease. Laughter can dispel anxiety, help manage stress, depression, fear, worry and increase pain tolerance.

On the other hand, Doom and gloom produces ill-health, including high blood pressure, ulcers, lack of energy, heart disease, or general malaise.

Laughter can stimulate the healing process, boost our immune system and memory, lower inflammation, Increase good cholesterol, make us resilient, and strengthens our relationships.

Laughter is the universal communicator that crosses all boundaries of race and culture. You can’t laugh and be mad; you can’t laugh and fret. Stress, worry, and laughter are not compatible.

Humor brightens our life, affects health and helps us live longer.

Laughter is one of the greatest mental tonics known to man. It is the second most powerful human emotion we can possibly express (the first being love). Laughter can pave the way for a new and exciting outlook on life.

How To Improve Your Sense Of Humor

Put Humor On Your Horizon. Finding item, such as photos, greeting cards or comic strips, that make you laugh.

Watch A Funny Movie Or Video. If you like animals, watch funny pet video's. If you find humor in babies or kids, check out YouTube for ones that make you giggle. Even stupid, silly videos sometimes can crack you up, and give you a big belly laugh. Ha, Ha, Ha.

Find what makes you laugh then relax, and when something hits your funny bone, laugh until your belly hurts.

Look Online At Joke Websites. Listen to funny podcasts. Go to a comedy club.

Make Friends On Social Media that share stories of laughter, funny humor, and silliness.

Smile A Lot. Turn that frown upside. Make yourself smile if you have too. Find something to smile about, look in the mirror and smile at yourself. Practice, practice, practice.

Once you've donned your smile, then laugh. Once you've had your laugh, notice how you feel. Are your muscles a little less tense? Do you feel more relaxed or cheery? That's the natural wonder of laughing.

Laugh With Your Friends.When you're with friends, talk, play games, tell jokes, sing songs - put away your cell phone and tablet. Do things that make you laugh.

Don't Take Things So Seriously. Be honest and be yourself. Focus on making your life lighter.

Share Your Laughter With Others. Make it a habit to spend time with friends who make you laugh. And then return the favor by sharing funny stories or jokes with those around you.

Watch Old Sitcoms like Dick Van Dyke And Mary Tyler More, Bob Newhart, All in the Family. My favorite is Everybody Loves Raymond. That show always makes me laugh - a lot.

Relax And Enjoy Life. There's a lot of things that are funny out there. Look for things that spark joy.

Incorporate Hearty Belly Laughter Into Your Life. Think about things that make you laugh, then give yourself a big hearty belly laugh. A hearty laugh is not necessarily loud, it come from the heart, which means a sincere, enthusiastic one.

There isn't much laughter going on in the world today, and what this world needs more than anything is a good hearty laugh.

Be A Good Listener And Observer. You don't want to miss out of funny things and ideas.

Allow Yourself To Be Silly. We always worry about what people will think. We don’t owe anyone anything. We haven’t promised to keep everyone happy, and it isn’t even possible. If your silliness makes them laugh, be happy that you contributed towards increasing little happiness in the world.

Spend Time With Funny People and joke around with them, but select those who have morals, values, good character, stability, and are smart. Laugh, but don't overdue it, you want to be yourself.

Know What Isn't Funny. Some forms of humor aren't appropriate. Use your best judgment to discern a good clean joke from a bad or hurtful one. And don't laugh at the expense of others or at their misfortunes. Be Kind.

Can You Train Yourself To Laugh?

Yes, just like anything else, you can train yourself to to enjoy the medicine of laughter every day. Laughter is a skill that can be learned.

Everybody can be taught how to make jokes and be funny, but that doesn't mean that you'll automatically turn into Robin Williams over night. However with practice, you can learn to laugh and be funny in everyday situations, and at every stage of your life.

When laughter is used correctly, it is a superpower that can be your greatest asset for having a happier, healthier, longer, and more fulfilled life.

So if you have a difficult time laughing - Practice. Practice. Practice.

Conclusion:

Every day you need to smile and laugh - you need to take your medicine. Find something that makes you laugh. See the humor in life. Take time to laugh. Take time to play. That's what keeps us healthy and gives us a long life worthy of living.

Always remember, "Laugh and the world laughs with you."