If you see your employees frowning, it is possible that they are not happy or might be going through some form of problems. Vice versa, when you see laughing employees who wear smiles on their faces, you could sense the joy and happiness they have in the office. I enjoy working in an office environment where one can find co-workers turned friends. I always believe that “office mates who work and laugh together stay together”. When a company hires talented personnel, it is not just his/her talent that is sought after. In reality, teamwork counts. Humor is one of the happy factors that enhances teamwork and thus the team’s performance.
I am a light hearted person who can laugh easily at jokes or stories. Therefore, from my own experience, I can say that when communicating with your team, laughter can be essential to team building, because your colleague finds you approachable. Laughter is a part of human behaviour regulated by the brain, helping humans to clarify their intentions in social interaction and providing an emotional context to conversations. Laughter is used as a signal for being part of a group as it signals acceptance and positive interactions with others. Laughter is sometimes seen as contagious, and the laughter of one person can provoke laughter from others as a positive feedback.
According to research, an average baby laughs 300-400 times a day compared to an average adult who laughs only 15-20 times a day! This will depend on factors such as age, gender, education, language, and culture as to whether a person will experience laughter in a given situation. I laughed around 100 times a day!!! Laughter has been used as a therapeutic tool as a natural form of medicine. It provides benefits to a person’s physical, emotional, and social well being. It can relieve stress and boost the immune system. Laughter releases endorphins to relieve pain. It can help prevent heart disease by increasing blood flow and improving the function of blood vessels. Laughter diminishes anxiety or fear, improving the overall mood, and adding joy to one’s life.
Dr. Sasithara’s thoughts for good laughs:
Rule #1: Never allow yourself to get old. This includes how you maintain your looks, physical fitness and dietary, and a sharp memory.
Rule #2: Never allow anyone to put you down. You must work hard to achieve your goal. Dream big, start small.
Rule #3: Filter what you see and hear. You do not need to understand everything especially bad things that is happening to you. Instead, go ahead and count your blessings. Be happy with what you have. Keep your heart and head light.
Scientists believe that laughter therapy has some social benefits such as strengthening relationships, improving teamwork and reducing conflicts, and making oneself more attractive to others. Try to laugh a little and lighten up your loads, then you may little by little discover that you create your own happiness and yes, it’s you who create a happy work place! Finally, we can say that laughter therapy can be a significant enhancement to our lives.
