Levity “It’s a funny thing.”

By: Cyndi Summers

A Whole New Mind

Joyfulness, as exemplified by unconditional laughter, is demonstrating its power to make us more productive and fulfilled.

In the Conceptual Age, fun and games are not just fun and games- and laughter is no laughing matter.

Humor is showing itself to be an accurate marker for managerial effectiveness, emotional intelligence, and the thinking style characteristic of the brain’s right hemisphere.

Pink

Fundamentals of HumorUnderstand that a SERIOUS demeanor does not make you successful in life or work

Implement humor to make a MESSAGE more MEMORABLE

Recognize the value of humor in creating a healthier PERSPECTIVE

Connect with others using humor and laughter for a more BALANCED life

Research University of Maryland School of Medicine (2005)

* Study states that mental stress constricts blood vessels, reducing blood flow.

*Laughter causes the tissue that forms the inner lining of blood vessels (endothelium) to expand, increasing blood flow. It boosts immunity too.

* Laughter delivers oxygen to the brain, keeps your heart beating and burns 3 ½ calories per hearty laugh.

http://www.laughteryoga.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=857&Itemid=1153

More ResearchPhysical Effects

Merely anticipating something funny reduces levels of at least

four of the neuroendocrine hormones associated with stress.

Depression fell by 51%, Confusion down 36%, Anger went down 19%, Fatigue by

15%, and Tension by 9%

Laughing exercises the lungs, diaphragm,

arms, and legs.

It lowers blood pressure and increases the production of natural pain suppressants.

Laughter is the best medicine.

By using the example of Dr. Madan Kataria, the guru of giggles, andJames Thorson, a professor of the University of Nebraska who hascreated a multidimensional sense of humor scale, the author DanielPink reiterates the old adage that “laughter is the best medicine”. Healso shows that people who are happy and satisfied at their places ofemployment are more productive and successful than those who arenot.http://www.laughteryoga.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=319&Itemid=711

Stress Test

Character Traitsof People with a Sense of HumorViewed by others as more intelligent and

creativeWell-developed sense of humor is a sign of

giftedness (Holt 1995)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCz8he36hsk

Benefits of Humor in a Learning EnvironmentCreates a more supportive learning

environmentRetains more knowledgeCreates a sense of communityReduces stressEngages minds

http://www.workplaceissues.com/arhumor.htm

*http://www.umsl.edu/continuinged/education/mwr2p06/pdfs/A/Hellman_Online_Humor.pdf

Kids and Humor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vF8vZM-O3hc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6iNxLir0bw&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8aprCNnecU&feature=related

More Kids and HumorA 5-year-old laughs more than 400 times a

day!The average adult laughs only ? times.http://www.laughteryoga.org/index.php?optio

n=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=640&Itemid=1405

And Even Animalshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jqom4ejIf6

I&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hly0vuXP

G-M&feature=related