What is the greatest reward of being alive? Is it chocolate, sex, ice cream, tropical vacations, hugs from children, a perfect night’s sleep, or the satisfaction of a job well done? A thousand people, a thousand different answers. But one supreme pleasure that spans all people is laughter.

Little can compare to the feeling of a deep, complete, heartfelt laughing spell. No matter your age, wealth, race, or living situation, life is good when laughter is frequent.

Life is also healthier. Research finds that humor can help you cope better with pain, enhance your immune system, reduce stress, even help you live longer. Laughter, doctors and psychologists agree, is an essential component of a healthy, happy life.

As Mark Twain once said, “Studying humor is like dissecting a frog — you may know a lot but you end up with a dead frog.” Nonetheless, we’re giving it a try. Here are 19 tips for getting — or growing — your sense of humor, based partly on the idea that you can’t be funny if you don’t understand what funny is.

1. First, regain your smile. A smile and a laugh aren’t the same thing, but they do live in the same neighborhood. Be sure to smile at simple pleasures — the sight of kids playing, a loved one or friend approaching, the successful completion of a task, the witnessing of something amazing or humorous. Smiles indicate that stress and the weight of the world haven’t overcome you. If your day isn’t marked by at least a few dozen, then you need to explore whether you are depressed or overly stressed.

2. Treat yourself to a comedy festival. Rent movies like Meet the Parents; Young Frankenstein; Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure; Monty Python and the Holy Grail; This Is Spinal Tap; Animal House; Blazing Saddles; Trading Places; Finding Nemo. Reward yourself frequently with the gift of laughter, Hollywood style.

3. Recall several of the most embarrassing moments in your life. Then find the humor in them. Now practice telling stories describing them in a humorous way. It might take a little exaggeration or dramatization, but that’s what good storytelling is all about. By revealing your vulnerable moments and being self-deprecating, you open yourself up much more to the humorous aspects of life.

4. Anytime something annoying and frustrating occurs, turn it on its head and find the humor. Sure, you can be angry at getting splashed with mud, stepping in dog poop, or inadvertently throwing a red towel in with the white laundry. In fact, that is probably the most normal response. But it doesn’t accomplish anything other than to put you in a sour mood. Better to find a way to laugh at life’s little annoyances. One way to do that: Think about it as if it happened to someone else, someone you like — or maybe someone you don’t. In fact, keep running through the Rolodex in your head until you find the best person you can think of to put in your current predicament. Laugh at him, then laugh at yourself!

5. Read the comics every day and cut out the ones that remind you of your life. Post them on a bulletin board or the refrigerator or anywhere else you can see them frequently.

6. Sort through family photographs and write funny captions or one-liners to go with your favorites. When you need a pick-me-up, pull out the album.

7. Every night at dinner, make family members share one funny or even embarrassing moment of their day.

8. When a person offends you or makes you angry, respond with humor rather than hostility. For instance, if someone is always late, say, “Well, I’m glad you’re not running an airline.” Life is too short to turn every personal affront into a battle. However, if you are constantly offended by someone in particular, yes, take it seriously and take appropriate action. But for occasional troubles, or if nothing you do can change the person or situation, take the humor response.

9. Sign up to receive the Top 10 list from David Letterman every day via e-mail.

10. Spend 15 minutes a day having a giggling session. Here’s how you do it: You and another person (partner, kid, friend, etc.) lie on the floor with your head on her stomach, and her head on another person’s stomach and so on (the more people the better). The first person says, “Ha.” The next person says, “Ha-ha.” The third person says, “Ha-ha-ha.” And so on. We guarantee you’ll be laughing in no time.

人生的最大追求是什么？ 是巧克力，性爱，冰激凌，热带地区的观光，孩子们的拥抱，美美的睡上一觉，还是做好工作带来的满足感？ 每个人给出的答案都会不同。 但是有一样极致的乐趣雅俗共赏，那就是欢笑。

没有什么能与一阵开怀大笑的感觉相提并论。 不论年龄，种族，身体状况或是生活境况，只要笑口常开，生活就是美好的。

生活也会更健康。 研究表明，幽默可以帮助你战胜病痛，提高免疫功能，减轻压力，甚至有益于延年益寿。 医生和心理学家也认为，欢笑是健康幸福生活的一个重要元素。

正如马克·吐温曾经说过，“研究幽默就像解剖一只青蛙—也许你能获益良多，但最终得到的只是一具青蛙尸体。” 不管怎样，我们还是要试一试。 下面给出10条小贴士，帮你培养幽默感，或是助你一臂之力，前提思想是如果你不明白好笑之处，你就不会惹人笑。

1. 首先，重拾微笑。 微笑和欢笑不尽相同，但两者又紧密相连。 感到一般的乐趣时一定要微笑—看到孩子们玩耍，爱人或朋友朝自己走来，圆满完成了一项任务，目睹了令人称奇或是幽默的什么事情。 微笑说明你还没有为生活的压力和负担所压倒。 如果你一天内几十次的微笑都没有，那你就需要问问自己是不是患了忧郁症或是压力过大。

2. 给自己找些乐子。 租一些电影录像回来看，比如说“拜见岳父大人”，“新科学怪人”，“妙人怪谭”，“巨蟒与圣杯”，“摇滚万万岁”，“动物屋”，“神枪小子”，“颠倒乾坤”，“海底总动员”。 经常奖励自己一点欢笑，好莱坞式的那种。

3. 回想你平生最尴尬的几个时刻。 然后从中找到幽默。 再练习编织故事，用幽默的形式表达出来。 也许需要加点夸张或戏剧色彩，但好故事都是这么讲出来的。 要是自曝短处，自我嘲笑，你就更加融入幽默的生活方式了。

4. 无论何时发生了什么令人恼火，令人泄气的事情，坦然面对，发现幽默。 要是泥水溅脏了衣服，踩到了狗屎，或是无意中将一条红色毛巾混在一堆白色衣物中洗，你当然会很生气。 事实上，这也许是最平常的反应。 但这于事无补，只会坏了心情。 最好还是找个办法讥讽生活中的小烦恼。 可以这样做。 想象一下如果这些事发生在别人身上会是什么样子，你喜欢的某个人—或是你不喜欢的某个人。在脑海里不停的翻阅名片夹，直到找到你认为最适合放在你眼前窘境 的人选。 讥笑他，然后讥笑自己！

5、 每天看一些漫画书，剪切那些和你的生活相关的章节。 将它们贴在记事板，电冰箱或是随便什么你能经常看见的地方上。

6. 整理家庭相册，写上好笑的标题或是你最喜欢的一句话。 累了就合上相册。

7. 每天晚餐时，让家里人说一件他们当天有趣甚或是难堪的事。

8. 当有人冒犯了你或是惹你生气了，用幽默还击，不要报以敌意。 比如，如果有个人老是迟到，对他说，“好哇，我真高兴你没有开一家航空公司。” 人生苦短，别太过于计较个人恩怨。 但是，如果某人总是冒犯你，那就不一样了，得把它当回事儿，采取适当的措施回敬他。 但对于偶尔的麻烦，或是你怎么做都改变不了那个人或是境况，就用幽默回敬吧。

9. 在网站注册，用电邮订阅大卫·莱特曼每天的头十条。

10. 每天花15分钟参加哈哈课程。 玩法是这样。 你和另一个人（拍档，小孩，朋友等）躺在地上，把头放在她的肚子上，她的头放在另一个人的肚子上，以此类推（人越多越好）。 第一个人说，“哈。” 下一个人说，“哈哈。” 第三个人说，“哈哈哈。” 以此类推。 保证你会笑个不停。

给一个短信幽默：大牛在办公室里老放响屁，同事忍不住说你能不能不出声。然后便见大牛坐在那里摇来晃去抖个不停，问你在干什么，大牛回答说我调成震动的了！