Hello there, I'm Sam
Welcome to my podcast! Explore health, relationships, career, family & general self well-being talk with me. New episode daily.
22 Dec 2023
The Science and Joy of Humor
Today we explore the power of humor and its ability to bring joy and resilience in our lives amid adversity. Laugh more, live longer!
View transcript ↓
Hey there, welcome back to another episode. I'm your host, Sam, and today we're diving into something that's both universal and deeply personal: humor. Humor is such a fascinating thing, isn't it? It can break the ice in awkward situations, lift our spirits on a gloomy day or simply add more joy to our lives. As Charlie Chaplin once said, "A day without laughter is a day wasted." But have you ever wondered why we laugh? What makes something funny? Well, let's delve into that. The ancient Greeks had a profound appreciation for humor. They even had a goddess of comedy named Thalia who was one of the nine Muses in Greek mythology. How cool is that? Fast forward to Shakespearean times, his plays were full of wit and puns. He famously wrote in "A Midsummer Night’s Dream": “The lunatic, the lover and the poet are of imagination all compact.” He believed that comedy could be found in madness, love and creativity - three elements we still consider crucial for humor today. Now let's take a pause from history and get scientific for a bit. According to Robert Provine, neuroscientist and author of "Laughter: A Scientific Investigation," laughter is actually more about social relationships than jokes themselves. Apparently, we're 30 times more likely to laugh when we're with others than when we're alone! Makes sense right? Well here's an interesting historical anecdote on this very subject. During World War II – not exactly the funniest period in history – British soldiers used humor as their secret weapon against stress. They created humorous magazines called 'Trench Newspapers' filled with jokes and cartoons. This was their way of coping with fear and uncertainty; it brought them together under trying circumstances. That brings us to our random fact of the day: Did you know that laughing can increase your lifespan? According to a study from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, people with a strong sense of humor tend to live longer than those who don't laugh as much. So, keep laughing! Before we say goodbye, I want you to ponder on this quote from Mark Twain: "The human race has only one really effective weapon and that is laughter." Just like those soldiers during World War II, we too can use humor as our personal armor against life's hardships. So here's my challenge for you today. Seek out something that makes you laugh, whether it’s a funny video, a joke or even just retelling a hilarious memory. Share it with someone else and spread that joy around. Remember: Laughter is contagious. It connects us in ways beyond words. It makes us feel good and even has the power to heal. So let's take advantage of this amazing gift we all have at our disposal. If today's episode tickled your funny bone or got your gears turning, I'd be super grateful if you could share it with your friends and family. Let’s make the world a little lighter, one laugh at a time. Until next time folks, keep smiling and stay humorous!