Feeling Unhappy? Laughter is the Best Medicine
Feeling unhappy?
We all do at times. It’s a key emotion within each and every human being. At some point in their lives, all seven billion people on this planet of ours experience unhappiness. It is a completely normal feeling, but it isn’t the most pleasant one in the world just the same.
To make things worse, unhappiness, more often than not, comes hand in hand with other equally negative feelings such as loneliness, anger, or sadness—making the whole experience double the fun!
Whatever might be going on in your life or inside you at the moment, it is vital to understand a key element before anything else. And that key element is this: you can’t be happy in life if you don’t know how to be unhappy.
While this article doesn’t deal with that issue specifically, I would like to mention it just in passing, as it is a related issue. That’s because, if you want to feel true happiness coursing through you, you need to understand and accept the balance of your whole being.
So few of us are aware of this and do not get what our bodies are actually doing for us when it puts us in a state of unhappiness. I have written an in-depth article about this, which I highly recommend that you read.
It’s one that even I often reread as a reminder to myself.
Having said that, let’s dig deeper into the topic of this article and discover a cure that you can use, right now, whenever you feel unhappy.
When the unpleasant feeling of unhappiness lingers within us, the world can look pretty grey and off-color.
Often, we make ourselves feel even more down than we already are by watching a sad movie or TV show, or by listening to a depressing song.
It’s true that doing these things can bring comfort, as we recognize similar feelings within someone else and empathize, and this can help us to not feel so alone. But, this will not help to bring color back into your life, as you are feeding it the same kind of energy.
Just as you are what you eat, you also become what you put into your mind. If you feed yourself with more unhappiness, you will simply remain in the same state. But, if you feed your mind with something happy, a shift or change will take place within you. And you know one of the most effective ways to make that change?
Laughter.
Before we dive into how, let’s start with the why and the effects that laughter has on our body and mind. It’s quite remarkable.
The following has been taken from a scientific article on laughter. If you want to take a full look at the article, simply click “here”.
Laughter relaxes the whole body.
A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes afterwards.
Laughter boosts the immune system.
Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease. Is it any wonder that they say, laughter is the best medicine?
Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals.
Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.
Laughter protects the heart.
Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.
Laughter dissolves distressing emotions.
You can’t feel anxious, angry, or sad when you’re laughing.
Laughter helps you relax and recharge.
It reduces stress and increases energy, enabling you to stay focused and accomplish more. Humor shifts perspective, allowing you to see situations in a more realistic, less threatening light. A humorous perspective creates psychological distance, which can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed.
And it is something we should do a lot more in our day-to-day lives, not just when we are feeling unhappy. But when we are unhappy, laughing is a true cure to bring you out of this unhappy state and help you see the light amidst the darkness.
Now you might think, “But what in the world is there for me to laugh about right now?” Well, I’ll tell you, as this is where the how comes in.
Comedians.
If laughter is the best medicine, then comedians can be said to be the doctors. Comedians are people who are professionally trained to make you laugh and see the humorous side of life.
I am an enormous fan of comedians and have great respect for them. They have helped me through some tough moments and have allowed me to see the funny side of everything.
I have gathered together 10 of the funniest comedians (according to my list…) in the world. And, with each one of them, I’ve included a clip to start you laughing. Enjoy!
1. Louis Ck
2. Jimmy Carr
3. Ricky Gervais
4. Moshe Kasher
5. Steve Hofstetter
6. Kevin Hart
7. Kumail Nanjiani
8. Brian Regan
9. Aziz Ansari
10. Trevor Noah
Question about this article: Which one of the comedians made you smile the most? Do you have any other favorite comedians or tv shows you would like to share that help you when feeling unhappy?
Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.
Your voice matters!
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