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The Healing Power of Laughter:

Questions and Answers on Laughing When We Hurt

Excerpt from an interview with Annette Goodheart in Science of Mind Magazine

Is there a difference between laughter and humor ?

AG: Yes, and recognizing that difference is a real key to understanding the healing power of playful laughter. Humor is intellectual, a way of viewing the world. There've been a lot of studies on humor, but no agreement on what's funny. You think certain things are funny and I think other things are funny, because we have different senses of humor. We may cross over in certain areas, but there will still be basic, individual differences. People in Russia are amused by different things than we are here. There are differences between someone in New York and someone in California. A man's idea of 'funny' is often different from a woman's. These differences go on and on.

Laughter, on the other hand, is universal. It's a profound process that involves every major system in the body. It's spiritual, physiological, and emotional. It's not intellectual, except perhaps - with adults - after the fact. Think of the kind of laughter babies do. When we see a baby laughing, nobody says, 'Doesn't that baby have a wonderful sense of humor?'

Most people think our sense of humor is what causes us to laugh, but it's really the other way around. And we would have more opportunities to laugh if we didn't think we have to agree on what's funny. Laughter doesn't need a reason to be - in fact, laughter is unreasonable, illogical, and irrational. Laughter exists for its own sake. Infants provide a good example of this, because they learn to laugh first and later on develop a sense of humor, which is a playfully intellectual way of relating to the world.

Q. How can I laugh at things that hurt?

A. Sadly for many people this question prevents them from using the healing power of laughter to deal with the pain. Many of us are unaware that we laugh because we hurt. Abandoning our laughter because of overwhelming pain simply keeps us feeling victimized. Tapping into laughter as nature meant for us to do restores our personal power so we no longer feel like victims. We are able to cope with our pain .

Q. Don't we laugh because we're happy?

A. No, we don't. We are actually happier because we laugh. Every time we laugh, we heal, That's why we feel better after we laugh, not before.

Q. Won't laughing at my problems minimize their importance?

A. Absolutely not. laughter is always born of important feelings. It is nature's way of aiding our survival by giving us a new perspective so we may find ways to cope. Observe your own and other people's laughter and watch this important process take place.

Q. What if I don't feel like laughing?

A. You may need to cry which is equally healing. Tears are the healing not the pain. You may need to have a "tantrum" which is also healing. Watch the little children. They use their natural healing processes with masterful ease. They care for their pain with laughter, crying, and rage without wondering if it's okay or which process is best. They follow their emotions.

Q. Why should I consider laughing when I feel so bad?

A. Because we laugh when we are hurt and laughter heals. The laughter was yours for the taking at birth. You used it then, and you can again. It's simply a matter of opening oneself to the healing powers of one's own body to assist in dealing with our painful emotions. We have to feel our emotions in order to heal. Our thoughts then assist our understanding. We need to feel as well as think in order to regain our balance so we can cope.

Q. Who needs it?

A. Everybody! Laughter is important and effective for individuals, couples, families, businesses, schools, medical facilities and all other organizations.

Q. How to get it!?! A. Go see LIVE stand-up comedy at a comedy club near you! Especially if Jim Lauletta there! And if he's not? CALL THE CLUB AND DEMAND IT! LOL

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