Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, "Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?’
–Genesis 17: 17
Why do we laugh?
Sociologists have pondered this question for some time, but there has been no definitive scientific "use" determined for this outward manifestation of inner joy.
Scientists have, however, linked the tendency to laugh and smile to longevity. In fact, the smile is such a powerful force, that when the 44 muscles on the "facial palet" are configured just right, we feel better. Social scientists tell us that, merely by moving the face into "laugh position" or "smiling," even if we do not feel like it, we can jumpstart chemical reactions in the brain that actually make us feel happy or help us to climb out of a funk. Moreover, when we are nervous or feel anxious, we naturally smile, a primal survival response designed to help us connect with another person, thereby defusing a stressful situation.
So, the next time you are in a stressful situation, look at the faces of your colleagues, children, spouse, and notice the smile reflex. Your mother was not right when she said "wipe that grin off your face, I'm trying to talk to you about something serious!" Our smile is how we reach out.
Laughter and smiling are ways to invite others to join with you and connect. Laughter is something you can do equally well with total strangers or intimate friends. It is a non verbal universal language for "you and I both think this is funny, therefore we must share a bond."
Having laughed with someone, you can’t ignore them, assume the worst about them, or hurt them on purpose. Maybe laughter, after all, is the essence of how we survive as a species; at least on Monday mornings.
Sadness is the root of all humor.
–Mark Twain
What makes you laugh?
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