The Creative Domain: Humor/Optimism and Pessimism.

Oftentimes we think that humor serves as a distraction from problems and gives us a handy way to distance ourselves from the intensity of the challenges we are facing. This can make them seem a lot less frightening and easy to handle.

It has been shown that people with a well-developed sense of humor do tend to perceive difficult situations in a more positive light as well as have the ability to put more emotional distance between themselves and the
problem.

There is a strong correlation between having a readiness to find or create humor in different situations, known as trait humor, and positive self-esteem, self-concept, and evaluation of self-worth.

Optimism has been defined as having a tendency to focus on solutions during stressful situations, where pessimists have more of a tendency to focus on the problem itself and how it affects them negatively.

There have also been notable gender differences in the way humor is expressed. Men can be more likely to use biting or hostile humor as part of their repertoire, where women may lean toward a tendency to engage in self-deprecating types of humor.

The most notable benefits of humor are the positive effects on physical and emotional well-being. It is useful in strengthening social relationships and is linked to greater enjoyment of positive experiences.

What is funny is different for everyone. Some people like slapstick, comedy, parody, clowning, jokes, irony, and/or satire just to name a few types. The secret is to identify what makes you giggle. Some popular ways to find a laugh is to watch a comedy show. Many are now taped and being offered on streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu. There are tons of comedy movies to buy, rent, or stream that you can watch alone, with a friend, or with a group of family and/or friends. Shared laughter is wonderful and increases overall well-being. Spending time with a friend having fun is another great way to introduce more humor into your life. There are also plenty of books that are sure to tickle your funny bone. Whatever makes you smile is good and should be practiced as often as possible.