The Best Response to A Shocking Circumstance

 

Handling Fear By Laughing

This is the South African response to the shark attack (see earlier post or click here) of pro-surfer Mick Fanning on July 19: Laugh away your fear. Does it work?

To laugh is a secret cure, it eases fear, is contagious and stimulates happiness.

You heard the saying: We should become like little children?

 

Studies show that the average 4-year-old laughs 300 times per day while the average 40-year-old 4 times per day. If you believe the exact numbers or not is not so important. The point is that children laugh way more often than adults do. Research has also shown that laughter reduces stress hormones such as cortisol, epinephrine and dopamine. It increases health-enhancing hormones (like endorphins), neurotransmitters and infection-fighting antibodies. It improves the blood flow. All together it results in greater relaxation, resistance to disease, improves the mood and positive outlook.

How to laugh more? Listen to others laughing – it is contagious. Be around children and make them laugh, it is easy to make them laugh. Laugh when they laugh. The more you learn to laugh, the more natural and easier it gets.

I believe these are more than enough facts to become more child-like: Enjoy your laughs!

 

Special thanks for the picture to the Facebook group SA-People – for South Africans in South Africa and expats