Humor: The Best Rx You Can Write
Robert Provine, professor of neuroscience at the University of Maryland and author of Laughter: A Scientific Investigation, was the first researcher to conduct a complete investigation of laughter, taking what is seemingly a frivolous topic into the realm of serious science. Over a span of 10 years, Provine and colleagues hit the streets to document more than 2,000 cases of “naturally occurring laughter.” They compiled some intriguing data, such as: Laughter is an instinctive behavior produced and recognized by people of all cultures, and most laughter is not about humor—it is about relationships between people. According to Provine, we are 30 times more likely to laugh in a social situation than when we are alone.4
How do we invite more laughter and positive emotions into our professional lives? Here are a few ideas5:
• Be OK with laughing at yourself. Share appropriate embarrassing moments. This shows you don’t take yourself too seriously.
• Try to laugh at situations rather than lament them. Look for humor in bad or stressful situations. This will help improve the mood.
• Surround yourself with reminders to lighten up—perhaps humorous sayings on your desk or even screensavers on your computer that make you laugh.
• Keep things in perspective. We all know that many things are beyond our control—particularly the behavior of other people!
• Pay attention to children and emulate them; they are indeed the experts on playing.
• Be more spontaneous. This gets you out of your head at just the right time.
• When you hear laughter—move toward it!
• Hang around people who like to smile and laugh.
Hopefully, you have more suggestions and/or experiences to share. Feel free to contact me about them at PAeditor@frontlinemedcom.com.
References
1. Dunbar RIM, Baron R, Frangou A, et al. Social laughter is correlated with an elevated pain threshold. Proc R Soc B. 2012;279(1731):1161-1167.
2. Berk LS, Felten DL, Tan SA, et al. Modulation of neuroimmune parameters during the eustress of humor-associated mirthful laughter. Altern Ther Health Med. 2001;7(2):62-72, 74-76.
3. Cousins N. Anatomy of an Illness: As Perceived by the Patient (Twentieth Anniversary Edition). W W Norton & Company; 2005.
4. Provine RR. Laughter: A Scientific Investigation. Penguin Books; 2001.
5. Laughter Is the Best Medicine: The Health Benefits of Humor and Laughter. www.helpguide.org/life/humor_laughter_health.htm. Accessed August 30, 2013.
