Laughter is universal. It’s a form of communication that is understood across all languages and cultures. Everybody knows it indicates joy or happiness, relief or amusement. Laughing is good for us, too. Many studies have shown that it releases endorphins that can reduce pain; it lessens the effect of allergies; it’s good for heart health as it improves blood flow and increases the heart rate; it decreases physical and emotional stress and improves immunity.
People who use humour as a coping mechanism are generally more resilient to life’s knocks and can better care for themselves. Humour is also a social lubricant and resolves conflicts. Our ability to laugh is inborn and instinctive – deaf-and-blind babies laugh, never having heard or seen an example. So, laughter is a powerful tool, and
