Laughter, Flourishing, and Spirital LifeOctober 9, 2023 at 7–9 p.m.

Most people have a hunch that laughter and humor are related to well-being. After all, we often hear the phrase, “laughter is the best medicine.” What is perhaps less well-known is that religious traditions have long noted the positive benefits of laughter and joy for mental, physical, and spiritual life, and today an ever-increasing number of scientific studies are focused on the significance of laughter and humor for health and well-being. In this series, religious scholars and social scientists explore multiple aspects of how and why laughter can nurture the spirit and cultivate human flourishing.

“How Laughter Benefits our Mental and Physical Well-being: Insights from Positive Psychology” 

 Speaker: Dr. Patrick Heath 

Heath is Assistant Professor of Psychology at Gustavus Adolphus College. He earned his B.S. in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, his M.A. in Counseling and Student Personnel Psychology from the University of Minnesota, and his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Iowa State University.