We’ve all heard about the connection between mind and body, where our mental state can affect our physical wellbeing, sometimes in very profound ways. A recent study shows that laughter – a reflection of a happy mental state – can improve the way blood vessels function.
In the study, blood flow was measured before and after subjects had watched clips from film which induced laughter, or created states if mental stress. The differences were very significant – blood flow increased greatly after subjects had been laughing. The increase in blood flow was due to a change in the inner lining of blood vessels – the endothelium. This lining has many functions, in addition to controlling blood flow – it regulates coagulation and blood thickening and also secretes chemicals in response to the presence of infections.
The researchers don’t know what caused this change in the endothelium, and more research needs to be done. But what is striking is the effect laugher has on the healthy functioning of the cardiovascular system. The results were so striking that the researchers compared the effect of laughter to that of a workout in the gym!
And it isn’t just laughter that makes a difference – all kinds of happiness can be strikingly beneficial.
According to research reported in the Journal of Happiness Studies (yes, there really is a journal devoted to the study of happiness!), happy people live significantly longer lives than less happy people, the difference being comparable to that between smokers and non-smokers. It appears that happy people are less stressed and tend to have a healthier immune system which protects them against illness.
Some people have a naturally sunny and positive outlook: according to Sonja Lyubomirsky, author of The How of Happiness, around 50% of our level of happiness may be genetic. This still gives us a lot to work with, and there are plenty of steps anyone can take to become happier.
Try laughing every day. It’s so easy to find things to laugh at. I spend a lot of time browsing YouTube, and my favourite clips are comedies – there is so much to choose from! It may be that a short session with your favourite comedy clips cold be just what the doctor ordered!
Spend time with your family and friends. We are social animals, and spending time in the company of people we care about is one of the best things we can do to improve our level of happiness. It has been shown that happy people have bigger social networks and spend more time with other people.
Consciously look for ways to enjoy every situation. It is possible to enjoy just about anything – it’s all a matter of attitude. It’s a matter of resolving to focus on – and find – the good in all situations.
Don’t take yourself (or anyone else) so seriously. When you’re confronted with another of life’s inevitable little stresses, ask yourself, ‘Is this going to matter in a year? A week? A day? Even an hour?’ The answer is probably not, so don’t spend time and energy getting worried or angry about it.
Finally, try to remember that happiness and contentment are there all the time. We don’t really need to create it; it’s more a matter of uncovering it, or not covering it up in the first place. It can get crowded out by the stresses and cares of everyday life, but when we drop all of that stuff, it is there. So go out and laugh – it’s good for you!
Mark’s home on the web is EffortlessAbundance.com. You can read more in his latest book, Thirty Days to Change Your Life.
References:
- http://www.umm.edu/news/releases/laughter2.htm
- http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080805075614.htm
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