humor

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Overcomer, What Defines You?


Life changes overnight for coach John Harrison when his high school basketball team’s state championship dreams are crushed under the weight of unexpected news. When the largest manufacturing plant in town suddenly shuts down and hundreds of families begin moving away, John must come to grips with the challenges facing his family and his team.

What would you do? What do you allow to define you?

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Benefits of Laughter

laughter is better

Benefits of Laughter

Is there anything better than a contagious giggle that you absolutely can’t control? Laughter works wonderfully well in the moment, but it also has some surprising long-term health benefits. Laughter helps the pituitary gland release its own pain-suppressing opiates.  Humor works quickly. Less than a half-second after exposure to something funny your body senses and processes the information.

What can laughter do?:

  1. Lower blood pressure
  2. Increase vascular blood flow and oxygenation of the blood
  3. Give a workout to the diaphragm and abdominal, respiratory, facial, leg, and back muscles
  4. Reduce certain stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline
  5. Increase the response of tumor- and disease-killing cells such as Gamma-interferon and T-cells
  6. Defend against respiratory infections–even reducing the frequency of colds
  7. Increase memory and learning; in a study at Johns Hopkins University Medical School, humor during instruction led to increased test scores
  8. Improve alertness, creativity, and memory

Read more:

Strategies to create more laughter in your life:

  • T.V. and Movies: Don’t pick marginally funny shows to you – pick the ones that make you laugh easily.
  • Laugh With Friends: The contagious effects of laughter may mean you’ll laugh more than you otherwise would have during the show, plus you’ll have jokes to reference at later times. Having friends over for a party or game night is also a great setup for laughter and other good feelings.
  • Find Humor In Your Life: If something is so frustrating or depressing it’s ridiculous, realize that you could ‘look back on it and laugh.’ Think of how it will sound as a story you could tell to your friends, and then see if you can laugh about it now.
  • ‘Fake It Until You Make It’: Just as studies show the positive effects of smiling occur whether the smile is fake or real, faked laughter also provides the benefits mentioned above. The body can’t distinguish between ‘fake’ laughter that you just start doing on purpose, and ‘real’ laughter that comes from true humor–the physical benefits are exactly the same, and the former usually leads to the latter anyway. So smile more, and fake laughter; you’ll still achieve positive effects, and the fake merriment may lead to real smiles and laughter.
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Stuck in a mental fog? Clear things up with these four research-backed moves

out of order

The Best Ways to Beat Brain Fry
Stuck in a mental fog? Clear things up with these four research-backed moves

The next time you’re struggling to think coherently, skip your usual caffeine fix and take a quick walk instead: Being in a green space may help combat brain fatigue, according to new findings published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.   No park near your office? The next time you feel like you’re suffering from a bad case of brain burnout, try out these tactics to help you refresh mentally:

Think happy thoughts… When you’re stressed, your brain has trouble sending information to the prefrontal cortex, focusing on something positive—like your upcoming vacation or a date that you’re looking forward to—can help lower stress levels and increase the flow of information.
Hit YouTube…Research shows that humor has a similarly brain-calming effect. The videos won’t just get you laughing—brain imaging research indicates that they may also increase motivation and perseverance and decrease stress so you can regain control of your mental facilities. That’s two minutes well spent.
Get a hobby…Anything from learning how to crochet to running marathons works, so long as it satisfies two requirements: It has to be something you enjoy doing, and you have to be able to make clear, measurable progress while doing it. The kind of ongoing progress sends your brain a steady stream of the pleasure-inducing chemical dopamine, which will help make your mind more resistant to stress.

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Love Endures, Prayer Focus, Win Music Boat Cruise, De-Stress

Power Thoughts:

  1. “Be of one mind, live in peace and the God of love and peace will be with you.” — 2 Corinthians 13:11
  2. “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.” – 1 Chronicles 16:34
  3. “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” – Psalm 34:18

Today’s Prayer Focus:

  • Pray for 5 large leadership gifts of $10,000 or more to be given
  • Office Asst. & Station Prayer Intercessor, Karen

Nominate Friend and WIN for Yourself! From now until Friday nominate a friend to win a trip on the Music Boat in November!  If chosen you and your friends will set sail with KSWP’s afternoon personality, Jenn! Enter today! The deadline is Friday! Go here for the link to the Music Boat. (Remember to mention KSWP)

The Good Friends Question of the Day: What do you do to blow off steam on high pressure days? Please Like Comment & Share! – or call 1-800-944-8443!

Stress management: Workplace stress affects the performance of the brain, including functions of work performance; memory, concentration, and learning. Stress is believed to trigger 70% of visits to doctors, and 85% of serious illnesses.

Quick stress reduction techniques: The key to de-stressing in the moment is getting away from, removing yourself from or distracting yourself from the stressor.

  1. Stress reduction idea 1 – humour – Humour works because laughter produces helpful chemicals in the brain. Humour also distracts you from having a stressed mindset.
  2. Stress reduction idea 2 – brisk walk and self-talk Yes, actually leave the building. – Change your environment.
  3. Stress reduction idea 3 – rehydrate Go get a big cup or a bottle of water.
  4. Stress reduction technique 4 – catnap or powernap – A quick 10-30 minutes’ nap. Sleep is very helpful to reduce stress.
  5. Stress reduction technique 5 – make a cuppa – Any tea will do, but a flavoured cup of tea is even better.
  6. Stress reduction technique 6 – crying – Whatever the science behind crying, a good bout of sobbing and weeping releases tension & stress.