How Learning About the Benefits of Laughter Changed My Life (Thanks to My Twin)

I didn’t set out to become a Laughter Champion.

In fact, I only began exploring laughter because my identical twin sister, Sarah, was already a trained laughter professional. I offered to help her create a book that would appeal to corporate audiences. That’s it. I thought I was just helping her.

What I didn’t expect was that the research would change me.

At the time, I wasn’t someone who laughed easily. While Sarah was playful and expressive, I was more serious and skeptical. But she gently encouraged me. And as I began reading, learning, and testing it out for myself, something shifted.

Understanding the benefits of laughter made learning to laugh feel increasingly compelling—almost urgent. Delving deeper into the effects of laughter brought me to where I am today: more positive, more grateful, and more comfortable laughing out loud. Now, every day, I at least think about laughing, I smile a lot more, I’m more easy-going, and I often chuckle at myself in the mirror.

Some of the big influencers on my journey of discovery:

Norman Cousins and his book Anatomy of an Illness first caught my attention. He was known for using laughter to heal from a debilitating illness. It had never occurred to me to laugh out loud for health. Cousins took responsibility for his own healing and used laughter to activate other positive emotions. I felt I had a lot to learn from him. I’m someone who prefers to take responsibility for myself.

Cousins led me to James Walsh’s Laughter and Health. I was practically mesmerized learning the physiology of laughter—how something as simple as belly laughs could have such a powerful, widespread impact on the body. Walsh didn’t just share the science and history of laughter; as a physician, he also observed that the oldest and healthiest people he knew were those with a positive attitude, who laughed easily and often, and had a good sense of humor.

Uh-oh. That’s a far cry from who I am. But maybe—like Cousins—I could take charge of my own longevity by learning to laugh and cultivating a positive mindset.

I had a lot to learn. I was interested in changing, but still holding back. Then I stumbled on Lawrence Gonzales’ Deep Survival, in which he points out that it is laughter, combined with a playful attitude, that often distinguishes those who survive catastrophic events from those who don’t. Now I was completely motivated. My family loves adventure. My husband and kids are all disciplined athletes and trained in first aid. Several of the kids and my husband are even trained in wilderness survival! Me? I tend to worry. I am more cautious and skeptical. But all this information was clearly pointing me toward laughter.

It’s a good thing I love learning new things. I hate being a beginner—feeling ignorant and slow—but that discomfort often pushes me to practice hard and pursue mastery.

At first, I was uncomfortable laughing. I didn’t see much value or importance in it. Laughing was something other people did—not something I needed to do.

But that changed.

Little by little, I began to practice. Sarah had me start with smiling. Then she encouraged me to laugh even when I didn’t feel like it. I found myself chuckling when I felt silly, smiling at myself on purpose. And what surprised me most? It started working. I began to feel better. I began to feel lighter. Not all the time—but enough to keep going.

Today, laughter is something I choose. It's no longer just a reaction to a joke or a funny moment. It’s a mindset. A tool. A practice that helps me shift from stuck to hopeful, from heavy to light.

And maybe the most beautiful part of all? This journey brought me closer to my sister. What began as helping her write a book became a shared mission. She showed me how to laugh when I didn’t feel like it. She encouraged me when I resisted. Together, we discovered that laughter really can change your life—especially when it’s shared.

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