The 9 benefits of having a sense of humor
The sense of humor helps us to live life in a positive way and helps us surround ourselves with people who feel very good by our side.. Sense of humor and laughter they are one of the funniest things we can enjoy and, in addition, they are free. In reality, there are few things healthier than laughing, as it improves our overall and emotional health.
Did you know that laughter is used in psychological therapy? It is what is known as laughter therapy and you can learn more in our article: "Laughter therapy: the psychological benefits of laughter”
What are the benefits of having a sense of humor
A sense of humor brings a number of benefits. But what are they? In the following lines we explain them to you.
1. Helps to cope with stress
We live in an accelerated society, in which we do not stop for a moment to connect with ourselves. The pace of life in the West can often lead us to feel stressed and burned out, to feel mentally exhausted. Experts say that stress is a disease of the s. XXI.
Logically, there are many variables that cause stress, but we have the possibility that the situation does not end with us. Taking life with humor helps you better adapt to harsh environments. While it may be impossible to apply a sense of humor, for example in wartime, first world problems often have their origin in our way of thinking.
Therefore, as much as possible, practicing a sense of humor on a daily basis can help us find the emotional balance that we often want.
2. Attract people
People like to surround ourselves with people who make us laugh and make us feel good, because laughter helps release endorphins and serotonin, which are neurochemicals that are associated with pleasure and happiness.
Therefore, having a good sense of humor attracts others and helps them have a positive experience. If we also apply a sense of humor when living life, it will also lead us on the right track and allow us to meet interesting people. A sense of humor helps us find ourselves in a positive environment.
3. A sense of humor captures the listener's attention
A sense of humor is a resource used by many speakers, simply because creates a unique connection with the listener and also captures their full attention. A sense of humor is fundamental in public speaking, because the speaker must convey emotions, and it is well known that positive emotions such as humor can elicit a smile from the audience as the speaker provides information valuable.
4. Improves long-term memory retention
But the use of humor in the talks not only helps to capture the attention in the moment and connect with the listener, but also whate causes your long-term memory retention to improve. At least that's what a study carried out by Melissa B. Wanzer, which was published in the scientific journal "Communication Education".
According to the expert: "The humor, together with the instructive messages, get the attention of the listeners, it helps them to understand the course content and increases their ability to process the content, resulting in greater retention and learning".
5. Helps to relax
Humor is not only a resource to attract the attention of the public, but also it is key to relax the person who is giving a talk because it acts as a protective shield against the nerves.
If you laugh at yourself, you will be more relaxed than if you are continually thinking about how others value you.
6. It's good for brain health
Brain health also benefits from a sense of humor, as laughing is good for our thinking organ. According to research from the University of London, jokes activate the part of the brain that is important for learning and understanding. "Simply by listening to new jokes we are working these regions of the brain and that can improve your health and keep you active," explain the scientists.
7. Improves heart health
In addition, as highlighted by the professor of biochemistry and molecular biology Natalia López, humor activates a brain mechanism that receives the name of "central error detection". This area of the brain processes language, and when something does not make sense, it detects the error and synchronizes the logical and illogical of the narrative. When the error is detected, the brain releases dopamine, which is associated with the repetition of pleasant behaviors.
8. Improves general health
A sense of humor and laughter improve the immune system, so the body becomes more efficient in fighting infection and reducing threatening agents. Also, studies have shown that it allows muscles to relax and lower blood pressure, making it a great way to keep your heart healthy and reduce your chances of having a heart attack or stroke cerebral.
9. Makes you happier
According to George E Vaillant, in his book “Aging Well” he explains that “When we get older, we realize that the sense of humor is one of the most adaptive and healthy qualities that allow us to have a happy life ".
In addition, laughter and humor improve mood and help us feel better about ourselves and life in general. Sometimes we need to disconnect from the things that stress us out, and humor is a good way to do that..