Laughter is the best
Tonic - Dr TN Chugh
SIRSA NEWS
25 February,
2017
Pictures and Videos: GS
Mann
Laughter is the Best Tonic
Laughter is the physical
and physiological response to humor to express a set of gestures and the
production inspiring sound. Generally, it is considered as visual expression of
a number of positive emotional states such as joy, mirth, happiness, relief etc.
Thus, laughter is a part of human behavior regulated by brain which helps to
clarify the intention in a social interaction and response to conversation. In
group, it informs about the acceptance of good relations with others which
provokes laughter from others as a positive feedback. Laughter can be
represented as a situation of amusement, chuckle, giggle, hilarity, mirth,
merriment, shriek, glee and rejoicing. The conditions of despair, sadness,
unhappiness and gloom are against laughter. The study of humor and laughter, is
physiological and psychological effects on human body called Gelotology.
Smile and Laughter:
Smile is a facial
expression that involves flexing of muscles at the sides of mouth which may
extend to the contraction of muscles at the corners of eyes. The action of
smile denotes pleasure, social ability, happiness, joy and amusement. It is a
worthy source of communication throughout the world because it has favorable
influence on others and makes one likable and more approachable. In social
context, smiling and laughter have different functions. Certain persons
consider that laughing is outburst of smile. Smiling is not a pre-laughing plan
but may pave way to laughter. It can also be used as a response to laughter.
Smiling generally indicates a positive greeting reserved for close friends,
neighbors and family members. Too much smiling can be viewed as a sign of
shallowness or dishonesty. The word, ‘Smile’ represents ’sweet moments in life
experience’.
Dimples appear in cheeks
of certain people due to variations in the structure of facial muscles and
raising the cheeks high is associated with positive emotions. Thus dimples are
genetically inherited in the form of dominant character and do not appear due
to indifferent laughter. Normal laughing brings the audio structure of
‘ha-ha-ha’ or ‘ho-ho-ho’.
Causes of Laughter:
The major causes are the
feelings of joy and humor; however, certain other easy situations may cause
laughing. The general concept that explains laughter is called ‘Relief theory’
because it releases tension and psychic energy. It can be used to remove sad,
angry and upset situations of mind. The jokes bring inconsistency, as one may
realize that surprising condition was not dangerous, therefore, laughing
provides relief. The laughter may have biological origin as a kind of shared
expression of elevation and assistance. Laughter can also be brought on
tickling, pleasing gesture and amusement. Certain persons feel that laughter is
nothing else but sudden glory arising from rapid conception of some eminency in
ourselves, by comparison with infirmity of ourselves or others. Although
certain persons may find it unpleasant because tickling brings heavy laughing.
Children posses about hundred times laughing period and frequency as compared
to adult age due to increase of stress and selfishness.
Opportunities of Laughter:
Try to seek out persons rich in fun, jokes and
amusement; share witty and merry making conversations; watch funny movies, T.V.
shows, You tube and face book video; host humorous games with friends; attend
laughter Yoga celebrations; enjoy your company with children because ‘ joke’
represents ‘joy of kids environment’; do something silly with kids; invite
friends and co-workers to comedy clubs; read books with funny pages and then
share the contents of delight; can try to move towards places of laughter; live
up and smile with the people you pass in the street and co-workers because
smiling is considered as neighborhood of laughter; make time for fun activities,
for instance, miniature bowling, golf and carom; always express your true
feelings; laugh loudly along with good clapping during morning exercise; play
with animal or bird pet; develop hobbies which can be pleasing; adopt a habit
of regular voluntary service for society. Certain opportunities tried on
personal level are:
1 If you are an excellent teacher and you visit the classroom
with smiling face, you shall find happiness in the aspect of each student.
2 If you are an efficient doctor and you offer treatment with
amusement, it will elevate the confidence of patient.
3 If you are master of home to perform tasks with full
attachment and confidence, it shall create delightful atmosphere in the family.
The return of parents to home after official work, with smiling face, generates
happiness in the family.
4 If you are businessman and enter your working place with
pleasure, it reduces stress on coworkers and generates delightful atmosphere.
Humor in work place reduce job stress, improve morale, boost productivity and
creativity, and improve communication.
5 As a shopkeeper, if you convey regards to the customer, he
or she will definitely purchase the articles with happiness.
6 If you have a stroll on the road with smile, people on the
sides will pay utmost regards on their face.
7 You should display your happiness because the laughter does
not cause expenditure but shall grant you great regards. Your pleasure will
motivate others to enjoy the smile.
8 The conversation through anger is always condemnable,
whereas, laughter is like the flourishing garden exhibited through pleasant
faces of human race.
Negative Aspects of
Laughter:
It may be caused by
contrary emotional states such as embarrassment, confusion (nervous laughter)
and courtesy, paradoxical and evil laughter. Excessive laughing is an
unpleasant spell and can lead to cataplexy. Increased pride and fits of
laughing can cause hardening of tissues, muscles, sclerosis, weakness,
un-necessary shaking of limbs or even paralysis. Such persons feel undesirable
sensations. It may be associated with depression or mental derangement. The
spasm of laughter represents a form of epilepsy. Sometimes, laughing is due to
revengeful feeling on certain actions. The eyes may moisten during laughter as
a reflex from the tear glands. It is not always the tears that measure the
pain, sometimes; it is the smile we fake.
Benefits of Laughter:
Laughter is the physical
reaction in human beings due to response of certain external and internal
stimuli that brings rhythmical contraction of the diaphragm and other parts of
respiratory system. The multifarious advantages of laughing are used in the
form of therapeutic tools—as a natural medicine. It provides physical,
emotional and social well being:
1. Cause expansion of endothelium, the internal lining of blood
capillaries that increases the rate of blood flow. The hypothalamus part of
brain activates the receptors on the endothelial surface to produce nitric
oxide. It not only provides reduction in painful inflammation of important
blood vessels of heart but also decrease aggregation of blood platelets.
2. Reduction in the production of cortisol, that acts as a
stress hormone.
3. Brain also produces the hormone of epinephrine during
laughter to relieve much body pain and conflicts.
4. Laughing promotes the generation of antibody producing
T-cells which help to strengthen the immune system and thus decrease the cause
of many diseases.
5. About 40% people with heart diseases fail to recognize humor,
in a variety of situations as compared to healthy persons.
6. Laughter being a collective activity, having social and moral
role to eliminate their vices. It tends
to motivate uniformity of behavior and works against eccentric behavior.
7. Improve emotional health, strengthen relationship and find
greater happiness.
8. Laughing for about five minutes can cause relaxation of body
muscles up to 45 minutes and can burn about 40 calories and could lose up to
1.5 Kg of body weight in one year.
9. Relief in mental health by adding joy and jest in life;
relieve stress and depression; improve mood; enhance resilience and self
esteem; overcome anger and resentment, ease anxiety, fear and tension; diminish
pain and conflicts.
10. By seeking more opportunities of humor and
laughter, one can also improve emotional health, happiness and even add years
to life.
11. Reduce allergic reactions in a
preliminary study related to dust.
12. Social benefits of strengthening
relationships, improving team work and reducing conflicts. Laughter makes
oneself more attractive to others.
13. Laughter is a natural outburst of inner
happiness.
14. The use of intelligent humor and laughter
promotes literary work.
15. True amusement reduces loneliness and
promotes group bonding.
16. According to Bernard Shah,” if you want
to tell people the truth, makes them laugh. If you could not laugh, people
would go insane.”
17. Life is worth living as long as there is
laughter in it. It is the cheapest medicine.
18. Laugh in the race of adversity and leap
before you look. Dance as though everybody is watching you.
19. Laughter is an intellectual activity that
requires immediate approach comic situations.
20. Humor lightens your burden, inspires hopes
and keeps us grounded focused and alert.
21. Humor prevents difficult situations,
disappointment and loss.
Bliss of Laughter:
Laughter is your birth
right, a natural part of life that is innate and inborn. The child starts
crying or weeping just after birth, actually to elevate the rate of breathing
but learns laughing after a few months with the blessings of supernatural
power.
The simple but prominent acts of taking good
things in your life will make and keep you away from negative thoughts that
tend to prevent laughter and humor. The great philosopher, M. Iqubal has given
a quote,” only those persons are capable to laugh who are bless by God.” The
true saints preach that people should lead simple life without worries, expect
a little, give a lot, never hate anyone, stay strong, always smile even in
trouble, make the people wonder how you are still smiling and always keep in
touch with God. We get delightful results of peace and prosperity when we
replace negative thoughts with positive ones. The eminent concepts of laughter
develop better in persons because of good qualities of truthfulness, honesty,
contentment, forgiveness, thanksgiving and humanitarian attitudes, which are
due to delightful spiritual strength. Our mission in life is not merely to
survive, but to flourish with passion, compassion, humor and Divine bliss.
Seek initiation through
Spiritual Guide, concentrate on regular prayers and method of meditation so as
to gain spiritual emancipation. God only can transform darkness, bitterness and
blunders to elegant light sweetness and enthusiasm. Optimistic attitude,
positive objectives, constructive and innovative steps, achieved through
benevolence can help us to acquire eternal and perpetual blessings. Follow
hilarious declaration that life is worth living because the whole earth laughs
with flowers.
Contributed by: Dr. Triloki Nath Chugh.
Co-ordinator,
Shah Satnam Ji Educational Institutions, Dera Sacha Sauda, Sirsa (Haryana,
India ).
The writer is an eminent former Professor of Zoology; he has
more than 3 decades of teaching experience in various colleges of KUK and is
presently Co-ordinator, Shah Satnam Ji Educational Institutions, DSS, Sirsa. He
can be reached on his Mobile No:+91-94160 48789 and email: trilokichugh@gmail.com . Dr Chugh has published
many Zoology research papers; Guided several M.Phil students for research;
M.Sc. Secured 2nd Position BITS PILANI 1968; Gold Medalist in
French Diploma 1981 KUK; Prinicipal at SSS Boys College for 7 years.
