The seven dwarfs of Snow White fame were known, among other things, for their somewhat over-the-top positive attitude toward work. In today’s uncertain and stressful times, your response might be that work is no laughing matter. Or as someone said, “That’s why they call it work!” And yet for that very reason we might do well to revive our ability to laugh even at work and perhaps about the very things that we find stressful. I was reminded yesterday of an article published sometime back that said children laugh some 400 times a day and adults laugh less than 15 times a day. The numbers may not be exactly correct, but there’s no missing the point. Have we really lost the sense of humor that apparently was a natural part of our childhood?
Paul McGhee, PhD, of www.laughterremedy.com, reminds us that “hostility, fear, rage, and anxiety are emotions responsible for heart attacks while merriment defuses anger, rage, and worry.” Abraham Lincoln, when addressing congress during the Civil War once said, "Gentlemen, why don’t you laugh? With the fearful strain that is upon me day and night, if I did not laugh I should die, and you need this medicine as much as I do."
So how does one develop or revive a sagging sense of humor? Try this approach. Start by making a list of the things that make you happy. (Don’t start with work.) Keep it simple—a sunrise, hugging my spouse, a funny movie, ice cream, my own children. . . Most adults, at first sitting, can list only two or three so stay with it. After a couple of weeks or so you should have at least 100 items on your list. When things get stressful, pull the list out and allow a subtle smile to creep across your face until the smiles turn into laughter and the laughter breaks the hold of whatever stress you’re facing at the time.
Life isn’t always easy. Work is often hard. Lincoln was correct—we need this medicine!
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