Freud considered humor a precious and rare gift, very important to make everyday life lighter and reality more tolerable. He did a lot of research on the joke, or joke, which would not express true humor, but would correspond to the unconscious's need to express what it really thinks. For Jung, a sense of humor was the only divine quality of humans, and he emphasized the therapeutic value of laughter, concluding that a daily “dose” of laughter can bring the body back to its balanced state.
Authentic humor effectively reduces stress and muscle tension. It increases dopamine, promoting relaxation and increases the production of endorphins, reducing the sensation of pain. A good laugh can reduce the level of cortisol in the blood while increasing blood flow, helping to protect the heart. Laughter can also strengthen the immune system, making us less likely to get sick. Sleep is also favored; Laughing increases the oxygen level in the blood and reduces cellular breakdown.
O rice helps the mind to work better, supporting good brain function, memory, attention and problem-solving ability. It also helps us to see things from different points of view, increasing our understanding of the world, our fellow human beings and the reality around us.
The main function of laughter is communication, attenuating aggression and hostility, thus, we create good social structures around us. A friendly and humorous atmosphere favors any environment, family or professional, promoting integration among its members. Laughing makes us authentic, appreciating the creative and bright side of life.
True humor transcends the regional limitations between human beings, going beyond the borders between countries. A good example of universal and timeless humor is that of the Sufi philosopher Nasrudin (Nasreddin Hodja), who is said to have been born in Turkey in 1208 and died in 1284. Mullá ("master" in Arabic) Nasrudin is the main character in numerous tales, where humor evidences your cleverness and wisdom.
Here in Spain and Portugal, a similar character from popular tales is Pedro Malasartes, a hero and trickster who deceives everyone with his tricks, humiliating the powerful. In Spain, the hero is Pedro Urdemales (“who plans evil”); in Germany, Till Eulenspiegel and in Norway, Peer Gynt.
A famous example of nonsense humor in Nasrudin's stories is the story of the keys:
“One day Nasrudin was seen on a street, looking for something on the ground. A young man, seeing the crouching mullah, asks how he can help him. Nasrudin explains that he dropped his house keys. The boy starts looking for the keys too. After a while, the young man asks the mullah if he is sure he dropped the keys there. Nasrudin replies no, the keys were lost inside his own house. Perplexed, the young man asks why he is looking for the keys on the street. Nasrudin replies: It is because there is more light here!”
Another Nasrudin story:
“On one occasion, Nasrudin was in a boat with a learned man, when the Mullah said something that went against the grammatical rules:
– Have you never studied grammar? asked the scholar.
“No, never,” replied Nasrudin.
"In that case, half your life was lost," replied the other.
Nasrudin was silent for some time, when he finally spoke to the learned man:
– You never learned to swim?
“No, never,” he replied.
“So in this case,” said the Mullah, “your whole life is lost, for we are sinking.”
