Positive emotions, a good attitude, laughter, and love have an exceptionally powerful effect on immunity and a person’s ability to deal with disease. When we feel love, compassion, caring, or gratitude, the heart sends messages to the brain, which secretes hormones that positively affect our health.

Love is healing both to the giver and the receiver. We are protected from infection by social ties with friends, family, and community that involve love. In a study, 276 healthy volunteers received nasal drops containing rhinovirus, which causes the common cold. Not everyone who was infected became ill. Those with the greatest ties and number of strong relationships were the least likely to get sick.

Love of self is also an important part of the equation. One doctor stated that if he told his patients to raise their own immune function, they would not know how. However, if he taught them how to love themselves and others fully, it would achieve the desired effect

Just behind love in its healing properties is laughter. Individuals with a better sense of humor have stronger immune systems than those who do not laugh easily. Studies show that watching as little as thirty to sixty minutes of a comedy video is enough to increase immunoglobulin A, a part of your immune system, which serves to protect you against upper respiratory problems. We know from that same study that watching comedies increases levels of a substance called Complement 3, which helps antibodies pierce through and destroy defective or infected cells.

Too stressed out to take time out to laugh? Stress has such a powerful effect on immunity that it is estimated that in the general population, two-thirds of all the illnesses seen by doctors are stress related. Your body responds to emotional stress the same way it responds to physical stress: with increased disease.

You don’t even have to be experiencing stress in that moment. According to research, just recalling or thinking about stressful times in your past will warp immune function. In contrast, remembering happy times raises immunity.

Your immune system functions as a mirror to your emotions. If you want to be healthier, be happier. Focus your thoughts on the good in your life. Schedule time to laugh. Schedule time with friends and family. Make a daily effort to show your love and appreciation for them.