Laugh and Be Happy

by Dora Raymaker · 2009-07-13 16:00:00 UTC
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Apparently there are two types of laughter--laughter as an unconscious expression of joy, and laughter as a conscious expression of social information. Guess which one an Ithaca study found autistic children do much more of? The good news for us is that people prefer listening to the unconscious, spontaneous type of laugher that many of us on the spectrum excel at. Spontaneous laughter is the sound of happiness.

On the happiness topic, a University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill study is all about how short, frequent moments of happiness lead to resiliency and well-being, that, as quoted from researcher Barbara Fredrickson),

"Those small moments let positive emotions blossom, and that helps us become more open. That openness then helps us build resources that can help us rebound better from adversity and stress, ward off depression and continue to grow."

...The study helps show that to be happy, people do not need to adopt a "Pollyanna-ish" approach and deny the upsetting aspects of life.

...Fredrickson suggested focusing on the "micro-moments" that can help unlock one positive emotion here or there.

Something probably especially important for those of us who live with a lot of stress. And perhaps something to be mindful of concerning--or even be an important reason behind--autism therapy fatigue.

Dora Raymaker
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