PETALING JAYA: A common emoji used by the people while texting is a yellow face with a big smile. Or the one that shows you laughing so hard till you cry.
And perhaps not many were aware that yesterday was World Laughter Day.
World Laughter Day, celebrated on the first Sunday of May each year, was initiated by Dr Madan Kataria, founder of the worldwide Laughter Yoga movement in 1998.
According to a mental health expert, laughter is the best medicine as it could help reduce pain and promote wellness.
Malaysian Mental Health Association president Prof Datuk Dr Andrew Mohanraj said the act of laughing is both beneficial physically and mentally.
“Mentally, it can improve our mood, reduce stress and anxiety, boost our immune system and increase our resilience. Physically, it can lower blood pressure, improve heart health, boost oxygen intake and even relieve pain.
“Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemical, which can help reduce pain and promote a sense of well-being,” he said.
Dr Andrew, who is also a consultant psychiatrist, said injecting laughter into everyday lives could be challenging, especially when things seem mundane or bleak.
Despite that, he added that one could always find humour and joy in even the most difficult situations.
“One way is to actively seek out opportunities for laughter such as watching a funny movie or TV show, reading a humorous book or article or spending time with friends who make us laugh.
“Another way is to cultivate a sense of humour and learn to laugh at ourselves and the absurdities of life.
“Finally, we can practise mindfulness and be present in the moment, allowing ourselves to fully experience and appreciate the small joys and pleasures of everyday life,” he said.
Dr Madan started the Laughter Yoga movement in 1995 with the aim of the facial feedback hypothesis, postulating that a person’s facial expressions can have an effect on their emotions.
Dr Andrew said the annual celebration could serve as a reminder for the public to feel happy and content with what life has to offer.
Junior executive Aisyah Nazri, 24, said she would spend her leisure time watching movies and that she would opt for comedy.
She said this way she could release stress from work and help her relax after a long week.
“As a person who has just stepped into the working world, I’m aware that self mental care is very important as my life has transformed from a student to a working adult.
“The stress is different and keeping myself happy by watching funny movies or TV shows would always be the best way to keep my mental health in check.
“Sometimes, social media too can be depressing with everything that has been taking place lately – war, pandemic and climate issues – movies could be an escapism for me,” she said.
Human resources manager S. Michael said that as a team leader who continuously needs to motivate colleagues at work, laughter is always the best medicine.
“We understand that work can be so stressful and the best medicine to release it is through laughter.
“To create a positive work environment, I always make sure my team is in a good mood, so cracking jokes is my forte,” he said.
He said he occasionally invited his team members to attend sporting activities to get them to be more emotionally stable and take control of the situation.
Michael added that through all these, they could increase team productivity amid a pressured working environment.
