Laughter is the best medicine for a marriage that is struggling.Life is hard. There’s no doubt about it. We have a lot to contend with in our day to day world. Work, school, kids, plans and interpersonal relationships all have a way of complicating our lives. Stress levels can cause anxiety, depression and all manner of illness and emotional challenges. Having a partner helps to share the burden and ease it somewhat, and there are other coping skills we need to cultivate in order to keep our lives and relationships balanced and moving in a positive direction. One of the best ways to manage our stress and to cope with life’s difficulties and challenges is with a positive outlook and with a good sense of humor. 
The importance of humor in a marriage can not be understated. Humor has a way of diffusing tension, keeping us from taking life and ourselves too seriously, and to show us that there is always another perspective to be considered. In this way laughter is the best medicine for a marriage. When you think about it, life and our day to day challenges lose their ability to wear us down when we can see the absolute absurdity of many of the circumstances that we find ourselves caught up in. When you and your partner have the ability to laugh in the face of challenges and can point out the humor in a situation to one another, you learn not to take each other and yourself quite so seriously and life begins to look less like doom and gloom, and more like fun and opportunity.
Finding humor in tense situations also allows you and your partner to de-escalate arguments or potential disagreements. It allows you to lighten up and laugh at your own attitudes and turns grumpiness and annoyance into self -deprecation and reflection. When you and your partner have humor as a coping skill, you enjoy your time together, and, while you absolutely understand that there is a time to be serious, you never let yourselves get too dark or dreary without your partner pulling you out of it with humor. In this way laughter is the best medicine 
Have an oasis of joy in your home. If you knew that you would be happy and joyful and your home would be full of laughter when you arrived, how much more would you want to be there? I know that I can’t wait to tell my partner all about my day and all the strange and funny things that happened to me, the things I observed and the interactions I had. We always get a good laugh about all the absurdity of even mundane things like going to the coffee shop or the grocery store. Home should always be a place of relaxation, fun and happiness. Humor makes it even more so.
Humor is attractive and sexy. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve asked someone what it was that attracted them to their partner and gotten the response of, “He/She made me laugh, and that was it, I fell.” If you find someone who “gets you” and makes you laugh, you are a fortunate person, indeed. Spending time in laughter and joy is time well spent. Go to comedy performances, watch comedy films. Spend time laughing together. It will bring you closer. Those times that you spend laughing until you cry, until your sides hurt or you’re about to wet yourself can end up being some of the most fun memories you will ever make with your partner. Later in life you will look back on those times you spent and remember them fondly.
I want to give you a word of warning. You need to learn to differentiate humor from insults made in jest. This is very important. You should never joke about, discount, or denigrate your partner or insult them in the guise of joking, especially in front of your friends. Avoid mean-spirited jests at all costs. There should be absolutely no joking at the expense of your partner, ever. Not only is it hurtful and not funny, but it’s a great way to destroy trust and confidence in your relationship.
Instead, find what you and your partner both think is funny, and cultivate that. Do your best to help diffuse tense situations by making your partner laugh. If you and your spouse can crack each other up when tensions are running high or an argument is in the offing, you have a very good chance of having a happy and healthy long-term relationship.
Not everyone is born with a sense of humor. Some people are just naturally more serious, and there’s nothing wrong with that. The world needs all kinds of people, and serious people make an important contribution to academia and society. On the flip side of that, if you are too serious all the time, life is simply not as enjoyable as it might be if you were to learn to lighten up and enjoy some fun and laughter. Do your best to find that balance. A partner who has a good sense of humor can help with that.
If you’re not someone who was born with an innate sense of humor, it’s not too late for you to cultivate one. Begin by looking on the lighter side of every situation. Watch comedy films and pay attention to what others think is funny and learn to appreciate different kinds of humor. Learn not to take yourself so seriously, and work on lightening up your more serious side. It’s never too late to have fun, and bring some humor into your life. Laughter is the best medicine for your soul and spirit.
Life is just so much better when you can find the humor in tense situations, laugh at yourself, and learn not to take others quite so seriously as well. If you and your partner can laugh together, find the humor when things look bleak, and diffuse potential fights by pointing out the absurdity in the situation, you are well on your way to having a healthy and humorous life ahead of you. Families with children that laugh together are generally happier and more able to adapt and cope with the vagaries with life.
