By Saumyata Joshi:
In an age of globalization, with the blurring of public and private realms, everyone seems to be leading a mechanical life. The beauties of nature become insignificant if there is no one to admire it. What are we all striving for? A luxurious life devoid of happiness? Choosing materialistic pleasures over happiness is the root cause of stress level in the modern society.
At the height of laughter, the universe is flung into a kaleidoscope of new possibilities.~Jean Houston
Psychoneuroimmunology is a field of research dedicated to establishment of the relation between the human behaviour (laughter in this case) and the mind and how it affects the immune system. The research showed how laughter increases the level of health enhancing hormones like endorphins in the human immune system. It significantly promotes physical and psychological health, reducing the cortisol levels (cortisol is a stress induced chemical that can lead to heart disease, blood pressure and most often depression). Scientific facts clearly state the positive effects of laughter on a human body.
The benefits of laughter which any medicine can’t provide are numerous.
- It helps in the workout of the diaphragm and abdominal region resulting in a substantial improvement of the immune system.
- It produces essential antibodies which reduce stress levels.
- It provides a distraction from any kind of deplorable thoughts.
- It alters the morose perspective one has towards life.
- Socially connects one another leading to tranquil relations.
- Specially for those girls who spend excessively on cosmetics, laughter is the main key for a beautiful glowing skin.
Hence the saying goes, why frown and get wrinkles when you can smile and get dimples.
It is said that the earth laughs in flowers, but is man joining in with the sound of nature? With the laughter yoga clubs springing up across the country, even laughter gets reduced to a commercial status. Do we need to allot a specific time in our schedule to even laugh? Psychologists studying the science of happiness believe that practicing certain positive behaviours like laughter brings in new energy and positivity in life. Repetitive laughter is similar to the effect of repetitive exercise. It is strange that city life is unable to digest the concept of natural laughter, as man struggles to win the mechanical goals.
Finding humour in our own life is the key to happiness. Laughter gives us the light hearted perspective to view things as positive challenges; wherein we strive for excellence and not merely winning. The futility of a mechanical life needs to be realized by the society so that one does not lose his individuality in the crowd. Indulgence in stressful activities leads to an unhealthy distorted life, instead with mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come.