Humor is an aspect of emotional intelligence, so if you've got it, use it.

Humor has been called "the best medicine" because it has a positive effect on our emotional system. When we laugh, a positive emotional response happens and our level of stress is reduced. Whether the humor is directed at oneself, at others, or at circumstances which seem out of our control, it creates laughter and laughter unites people.

Humor happens when we experience, observe or hear something ludicrous or absurdly incongruous. It's the element of surprise or the element of realizing a bold contradiction to something we take for granted that makes us laugh. The benefits of humor have been compared to the positive effects of cognitive therapy in stopping negative thinking and depression. 

Humor responds to our deep-seated need to feel connected to others.The closest distance between two people is laughter, and humor is an emotional skill that requires focus, timing, keen observation, awareness of others and a bit of artistry in order to make us laugh. When we get the joke, realize the absurdity, and offer the desired response, we do so as part of the group. For example, when we watch a sit-com or talk show, we are aware of a studio audience which reacts as we do. Creating humor requires perfection--having an eye for the incredulous, the audacity to bring it suddenly and surprisingly to our attention, and the tenacity to see it through until someone breaks into laughter. It connects people because it puts a positive and zany spin on normal activities that we all experience, taking us from the mundane to the absurd all in a matter of moments.

Humor is "the best medicine" because it creates laughter, a most contagious eruption. Making people laugh is not only an art but also an emotional skill that can be developed with practice. When we laugh or create laughter, we increase our ability to connect with others. We also create a sense of well being not only for ourselves but for others, as well.