According to Patch Adams, M.D., “Humor is an essential amino acid.”  “Through humor, you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers. And once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be, you can survive it." (http://thinkexist.com/quotations/humor/).

No one is suggesting that a good sense of humor will cure any and all ailments. Nonetheless, evidence supports the notion that humor may improve the human immune system, relieve pain, and make it easier to cope with stress-filled situations and ill-health. Laughter is believed to enhance your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulate your heart, lungs, and muscles, and increase the brain’s release of endorphins. (www.mayoclinic.com).

Michael Miller (Strean, 2009) said that he could see a day when doctors would recommend everyone get 15 to 20 minutes of laughter daily in the same way they recommend everyone get 30 minutes of physical exercise daily. Good humor may, in fact, be good medicine.

Listed below are some good ideas for cultivating a healthy sense of humor.

1. Find a sample of the things that make you laugh.

2. Find a way to laugh at your own situation without using belittling or self-deprecating language.

3. Find a laughing partner and share your plan and invite them into your life.

4. Find laugh outlets: Comedy clubs and comedy acts.

5. Guard against humor that offends or belittles others.

6. Practice laughing. (adapted from www.mayoclinic.com)