The Power of Laughter and Play

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Playful communication is one of the most effective tools for keeping relationships exciting, fresh, and vital. Laughter and play enrich your interactions and give your relationships that extra zing that keeps them interesting, light, and enjoyable. This shared pleasure creates a sense of intimacy and connection—qualities that define solid, lasting relationships.

People are attracted to happy, funny individuals. Laughter draws others to you and keeps them by your side. When you laugh with one another, a positive bond is created. This bond acts as a strong buffer against stress, disagreements, and disappointment. And laughter really is contagious—just hearing laughter primes your brain to smile and join in on the fun.

Playful communication helps you:

·         Connect to others. Your health and happiness depend, to a large degree, on the quality of your relationships—and laughter binds people together.

·         Smooth over differences. Using gentle humor often helps you broach sensitive subjects, resolve disagreements, and reframe problems.

·         Feel relaxed and energized at the same time. Laughter relieves fatigue and relaxes your body, while also recharging your batteries and helping you accomplish more.

·         Overcome problems and setbacks. A sense of humor is the key to resilience. It helps you take hardships in stride, weather disappointment, and bounce back from adversity and loss.

·         Put things into perspective. Most situations are not as bleak as they appear to be when looked at from a playful and humorous point of view.

·         Be more creative. Humor and playfulness loosen you up, energizing thinking and inspiring creative problem solving.

Source: http://www.helpguide.org/mental/eq7_playful_communication.htm