“It is much better when there is not too much seriousness,” the Dalai Lama has said. “Laughter, joking is much better. Then we can be completely relaxed. I met some scientists in Japan, and they explained that wholehearted laughter – not artificial laughter – is very good for your heart and your health in general.”

“I think that the scientists are right,” the Dalai Lama concluded. “People who are always laughing have a sense of abandon and ease. They are less likely to have a heart attack than those people who are really serious and who have difficulty connecting with other people.”

The Dalai Lama tells a story of a time he visited Belfast just after the Troubles, he was invited to a private meeting where victims and perpetrators of violence were present. It was rather tense and a former Protestant militant got up and spoke saying “that when he was growing up, he was told by other loyalists that what they did in opposition to the Catholics was justified, because Jesus was a Protestant and not a Catholic.” The Dalai Lama knowing Jesus was actually a Jew laughed so hard that it completely changed the atmosphere of the meeting. Able to laugh at the absurdity of our prejudices and our hatreds, everyone was able to communicate more honestly and compassionately with each other.”

Humour shouldn’t be used to hurt others but to bring people together. The trick is to be able to laugh at yourself, to see the funny side of a situation. Changing your perspective.

Archbishop Tutu thinks it’s about being able to laugh at yourself and being able not to take yourself so seriously. 

“it’s not about the belittling humour that puts others down and yourself up. Its about bringing people onto common ground.”

“Life is hard, and laughter is how we come to terms with all the ironies and cruelties and uncertainties that we face.” 

“I believe very fervently that one of the ways of getting into the hearts of people is the capacity of making them laugh. If you are able to laugh at yourself, then everyone knows you’re not pompous.” Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Essentially, they both advocate taking oneself a little less seriously, and learning to laugh at yourself, it’s about humility. Don’t take yourself so seriously, start to look at the funnier side of life. If you start looking for the humour in your life, you will find it.

Life happens to all of us, and it goes back to perspective, how am I going to look at this situation, seriously, or is there a funny side to it that I can see?

One of my most embarrassing moments in life is actually also one of the funniest moments in my life. When one of our sons was about 10 years old he said he wanted to meet John Key who was visiting Nelson at the time. So, I drove him around to Tāhunanui and as we are driving along Rocks Road, my son said to me “my friend says that John Key hates Māori.” I said "Oh that is nonsense, of course, he doesn’t.” We arrive and we see John Key surrounded by other politicians and no doubt other important people. And I introduce my son to him and as they shake hands, my dear son says to him: ”Do you hate Māoris”? Well, my jar dropped to the ground, I could see the look of horror on all the faces around John Key, I mutter something about his friend telling him that. Thankfully John Key didn’t bat an eyelid and before you know it, they were talking about football! I was so embarrassed I couldn’t get out of there fast enough, but do you know that is also one of the funniest things that have ever happened to me, I can’t help but laugh every time I tell that story.

Did you know that the study of laughter and its effects on the body is known as Gelotology? Not to be confused with Gelato!   

According to Dan Harkins:

“Laughter is serious business when it comes to living long and healthy lives. Some experts have gone so far as to quantify laughter's particular biological causes as well as its effects on health and well-being. This field of study, called gelotology, has quantified claims that laughing may improve heart health, bolster immunity and lessen pain. Other studies have focused on laughter's sociological role of building group mentality or its psychological role of easing tension and lessening depression.”

You can read more from that article here

Proverbs 17:22 says, 

“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.”

Now there is science to back up that proverb. It appears that laughter can help with immunity and the heart, and depression. And remember that laughter is also catching, when we laugh others also laugh, increasing the well-being of the group. Let's face it, it's hard not to laugh along when you hear a giggling baby, isn't it?

So go read a funny book, watch some cat videos on YouTube, or watch your favourite comedian, and have a good laugh! 

I will leave you with a few jokes to tickle your funny bone.

What is so great about Switzerland?
I don’t know but it’s flag is a big plus. 

Hear about the new Restaurant called Karma?
There is no menu: You get what you deserve. 

Did you hear about the guy who invented the knock-knock joke?
He won the no-bell prize!

Below is the book’s suggestions on helping to cultivate humour.

Laughing at Ourselves to Develop Humour

Humour seems like something that is spontaneous and natural and cannot be cultivated, but the ability to laugh at ourselves and to see the rich ironies and funny realities in our lives is actually, like perspective, something that we can learn to practise over time.

1. Think of one of your limitations, human faults, or foibles. Think of something about yourself that is actually quite funny when you can have some perspective. The Dalai Lama can laugh at his limited English. The Archbishop can laugh at his big nose. What can you laugh at about yourself? When you can laugh at yourself, you will let others feel closer to you and inspire them to accept their own limitations, faults, and foibles.

2. Laugh at yourself. The next time you are in a situation where you act in a funny way, or say something in a funny way, or are just less than perfect, chuckle at yourself and make a joke of it. Humour is one of the best ways to end conflict, especially when you are able to make fun of yourself or admit that you are overreacting or being silly.

3. Laugh at Life. The next time you are delayed, or something does not go your way, try being amused by the situation rather than getting angry or outraged. You will notice how your amusement puts others at ease and can often smooth the situation. Similarly, when you encounter certain ironies in your day-to-day life, try to see the humour.

Extracts are taken from "The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World" by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu with Douglas Abrams.