Laughter in Life: The Medicine We Forget to Take

There’s a kind of laughter that completely takes over, the kind that makes your face hurt, your eyes water, and your stomach ache in the best possible way. The kind where you can’t stop, even if you try. For a few minutes, the whole world feels lighter.

I’ll never forget one night with the band, we were running late, tired, and a little stressed. Someone cracked a joke, then someone added to it, and before long we were gone. Full-on, can’t-breathe, pull-the-car-over laughter. I had to stop driving because I literally couldn’t see through the tears.

In that moment, we weren’t adults with bills or a band worried about being late. We were just friends, fully ourselves, laughing until we ached. And when we finally made it to the show, it ended up being one of our best performances ever. The crowd could feel it: the joy, the connection, the looseness that only comes when you’ve truly let go.

The Walls We Build

That’s what laughter does. It breaks down the invisible walls we build to stay “composed.” When you’re brave enough to laugh at yourself and with your people you’re showing the world that you’re safe to be real.

That kind of openness is contagious. It’s trust in action.

A Coping Skill in Disguise

Laughter is one of the most underrated coping skills we have. It doesn’t fix our problems, but it helps us carry them. It reminds us that even when life feels heavy, we don’t have to be heavy all the time.

In my work as a psychologist, I see it every day — kids who giggle their way through hard conversations, or adults who make self-deprecating jokes to survive tough days. Sometimes it’s avoidance, sure. But often, it’s resilience.

Humor gives our brains a breather. It helps us zoom out and remember that life is more than the moment we’re stuck in.

The Science of a Good Laugh

When we laugh, our body literally changes chemistry. Stress hormones drop. Dopamine rises. Our brains rewire toward calm and connection.

We think clearer. We connect deeper. We breathe again.

It’s easy to take ourselves too seriously — to replay mistakes, obsess over what people think, or overanalyze every decision. But laughter cuts through that noise. It reminds us that perfection was never the point.

Letting Go of the Straight Face

Life isn’t meant to be endured straight-faced. It’s meant to be lived — awkwardly and joyfully — with a little laughter echoing in the background.

So laugh at the weird moments. Laugh at your typos. Laugh when plans fall apart or when your dog steals your sandwich.

Humor doesn’t erase the hard stuff — it just reminds you that you’re still here, still capable of joy, still floating through it all.

Challenge of the Week

Pay attention to the moments that make you laugh — especially the unexpected ones.
Then, create one. Watch a funny video, share a ridiculous meme, or call a friend who always cracks you up.

Let yourself laugh until you cry, or at least until you forget what you were worrying about.

Because laughter isn’t a distraction from life — it’s proof that you’re alive.