A key to staying fired up is to laugh easily and laugh often.SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE
Stress and laughter cannot exist in the same place at the same time. If
you don’t believe that, lift a 50-pound weight, have someone tell you a re-
ally funny joke, and see what gives. Stress and laughter fail to coexist not
only in physical space but in psychological space as well. Laughter has a
purging effect on stress hormones. Nurturing your sense of humor and
keeping a ready wit are key weapons in your arsenal against the stress hor-
mone rushes and potential amygdala hijacks.
A sense of humor helps to:
- Change your perspective in the situation (remember the importance
of appraisalin triggering stress) - Clear your thinking
•Attract other people to you
Almost every assessment or appraisal of a situation we face offers the
opportunity to view that situation through a humorous lens. Like one mother
commented, “Laughing at your problems is like changing a baby’s dirty di-
aper. It doesn’t change anything permanently but it does make things more
livable for a while.” If you want to transcend the stress mess in your own
world, you’ll have to form the habit of keeping your sense of humor by at-
tempting to see a comedic lining in every cloud.
•When you find out your new company has a new job opening, but
it’s your job that opened... keep your sense of humor.- When a client tells you that you and your company are so good they
can no longer afford you... keep your sense of humor. - When your spouse comes home from shopping and says he just saved
$500 dollars... keep your sense of humor. - When your teenager comes home and tells you the family lineage is
not at risk... keep your sense of humor. - When your spouse runs off with your best friend and you realize just
how much you miss your friend... keep your sense of humor.
•When your ship finally comes in and you see that it’s a garbage barge
... keep your sense of humor.
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