Building Family Strengths: Humor

Humor changes our brain chemistry. It releases endorphins that increase our sense of well-being, improve our reasoning powers and make us less sensitive to pain. Families who have a sense of humor are more likely to feel good about themselves. It also seems fairly obvious that having a sense of humor helps families cope with life's stressors and crises.

How many laughs have you had today? Researchers suggest that the average American needs to laugh 15 times or more a day for health maintenance. If you are a serious person, who does not take time out for pleasure and always looks at things in a negative way, you are likely to have health problems in the future. If you are a serious workaholic and don't take time to laugh, you may find yourself less productive and effective than if you take time out for a little laughter.

WHAT IS HUMOR?

Humor can be defined as that which brings laughter into our lives. It can have positive effects for us physiologically, emotionally, psychologically, socially, intellectually and spiritually. The following are some benefits of laughter.

• Laughter can make you feel better. It is a tool to lighten your mood and help you laugh at yourself and not take things too seriously. Good laughter can help break the ice and ease social tension which makes you feel better and confident in communicating sensitive information.
• Laughter is good for reducing stress. Some physicians report that laughter can produce muscle relaxation which make an important contribution to stress reduction. Laughter can also release pent-up feelings of fear, anger and anxiety.
• Laughter is good exercise. Laughter is like "internal jogging." When you laugh, your muscles are activated, oxygen floods the blood and the cardiovascular system dilates. Laughter can stimulate the production of endorphins - the body's natural pain-reducing enzymes - in the brain.
• Laughter is free. Laughter is fat-free, salt-free, non-taxable, no cost, environmentally safe, constantly renewable, and does not require batteries and special assembly.

CHARACTERISTICS OF HUMOR WITHIN FAMILIES

Humor is very beneficial in strengthening families. It gives families perspective and a sense of power. Families that learn to find humor even in some of the grim realities and emotion-packed challenges of daily life have an edge on peace of mind. Humor can be a very effective tool in helping families cope during good and bad times. Here are some of the benefits of laughter and joy to the family unit.

• Humor makes life fun.
• Humor helps us cope with problems.
• Humor and playfulness are a safety valve for the expression of anger and other strong feelings.
• Humor offers perspective and balance.
• Humor is a means of communication and creative expression.
• Humor provides temporary relief from the world's restrictive regulations.
• Humor is a way to express the truth even when the truth is feared.
• Humor is mentally and physically good for you.
• Humor affirms life and brings people together.
• Humor often succeeds where other methods have failed.

PRESCHOOL CHILDREN

FUN is the name of the game for very young children. The playful attitude and carefree approach to life provide many opportunities for them to give and receive laughter. Through humor, preschool children begin to explore the world based upon what they see around them. If they see humor displayed they are more likely to model this attitude as they interact with others.