Many people love to laugh as a way to release and heal! Laughter is a universal experience. Some people love to laugh, while others may not feel as connected to it, yet everyone can laugh. Laughter can be an expression of Self or healing, but it can also serve as a defense. How do you use laughter?

Your expression through humor and laughter is a critical part of your expression of Self. Everybody has a sense of humor — some just don’t know how to access it. Each person has a different style of humor. What is yours? If you use sarcasm, it’s a form of humor that judges and may come from your own fear of judgment. You may have a more playful humor that makes you feel young. Intellectual humor uses puns and wordplay. You may be more animated and use gestures. Or you may have a mix of all of the above, or something completely unique! Each of these styles is a part of your expression of your Self.

Intimacy is a result of our expression. A deep connection can develop when humor is shared between two people. Being playful can be humorous, and being humorous can be playful. These moments can increase intimacy. As a relationship deepens, something completely benign can trigger tremendous laughter from the core of your being, uniting you with the other person.

During serious times, a lot of fear can rise to the surface. When that fear emerges, you can either look for ways to release it or fall into despair. Laughter can free you from blocks of pain and allow emotions to flow.

As you master the challenges of this life, you may notice your humor shift, just like the rest of your expression of Self. For example, your humor might evolve from sarcasm to something more gentle and genuine, no longer using others as the point of reference. It might rely on puns or simply turn everyday situations into playful silliness. This kind of humor becomes free from judgment and harm because you have moved beyond your fear of judgment that hurts.

Humor is not only expressive, it’s healing. Often, in times of tragedy, like the loss of a loved one, stories are shared that bring laughter to the surface. That’s because laughter heals. It unites people and helps us remember the good during moments when all we feel is loss. A deep laugh can release the heaviness of inner pain. These moments are sometimes misunderstood as disrespectful or cold, but when people gather in grief and find laughter in memories, they are not ignoring the pain — they are healing through it. They are honoring the positive, maybe even the legacy, of what or who has been lost. If you're feeling heavy after a difficult time, maybe renting a funny movie could help release those tough emotions.

Laughter can also be a defense. We all know someone who giggles constantly, even when nothing is funny. Others laugh in emotionally difficult situations, even if it’s out of character for them. In both cases, laughter may serve as a defense mechanism. It reflects an uneasiness in connecting with life, others, or the situation at hand. If it’s situational, the laughter helps avoid deep emotional engagement. If it’s constant, it may indicate discomfort within oneself — a barrier to connection or feeling. This is especially common in those who experienced trauma in childhood and never learned how to emotionally connect with others. The giggle becomes a coping mechanism. It provides a sense of control when emotions feel overwhelming.

As you can see, laughter is a powerful form of expression, healing, and defense. Being aware of its many uses — in yourself and in others — can lead to greater compassion. You may better understand unexpected laughter or learn to use humor as a healing tool. If it’s a defense, perhaps you can gently explore the fear behind it. However it shows up in your life, humor is here to help bring joy to the surface.

May you all laugh until you’re free.

Thank you for reading and sharing this journey with me! If you’re looking to connect with like-minded individuals and share meaningful conversations, I invite you to join my community, “The Sage’s Circle”, on Facebook. Let’s build a space for connection, wisdom, and growth—be part of the conversation today!