Humor's Touch in our Lives by Scott Lofquist I just read a serious definition of laughter that says, "A psycho-physiological reflex, a successive, rhythmic, spasmodic, expiration with open glottis and vibration of the vocal chords, often accompanied by a baring of the teeth and facial grimaces." That particular definition is so serious that it warrants laughter itself. Humor and laughter are often in short supply in today's world. In fact, I believe one of the biggest problems facing most people is seriousness. Seriousness moves us into spaces of being stuck, hesitant, and it can lead to depression and disease. Seriousness robs us of all the fun, joy and humor that we were born to experience. Humor and laughter are among the most pleasurable experiences we can have. Because our unconscious minds are designed to seek pleasure, it is surprising that we don't have more fun than we do. I have always been amazed how two people can go to a party and one person has a fabulous time full of laughter and good humor while the other person is totally bored and stuck to the wall. If the room is full of strangers, how could two people have such a different experience? The music, food, people and surroundings were exactly the same, yet both people had remarkably different experiences. The reality of the situation is that each has chosen to experience the world differently. That is right...we choose how we will experience the world. Just think back and ask yourself, "What was the last thing I said to myself before I got out of bed this morning? Did I greet the day with a smile and wonderful expectation or with a heavy dose of seriousness?" A person can find grief or humor in almost every situation. Which do you choose? Of course, the person who moves through the world with a fabulous sense of humor has simply chosen to experience it that way. If you happen to be a member of the society of compulsively serious persons, there is hope. Would it be of value to you to be able to feel wonderful and have a great sense of humor in any situation? I thought so. Here are the steps to access a wonderfully humorous state anytime. -- Choose a trigger, like a specific touch that you could repeat when the situation you want to find humor in occurs. Then: -- Remember a time when you were really laughing out loud and go back and really relive the experience. Make sure that when you do this you are looking through your own eyes and really feeling the humor in that situation. What are you seeing? What are you hearing? Who is there? -- Focus your attention on the area of your body where the feelings are the strongest. -- Imagine those feelings expanding outward into your whole body and coming back in on themselves like a wave. -- Keep doing this until you begin to laugh out loud and when the experience peaks, fire your trigger simply by pressing gently on a spot and holding it for a few moments. -- Stop and switch your attention quickly. Pick out something to focus on in the room. -- Wait a few minutes and then fire your trigger again. What did you feel? -- If the answer is "lighter," and you feel the humor again, you were successful. Ultimately this exercise demonstrates that you are in control of your emotional state. What do you want to laugh about today? Scott Lofquist helps you develop breakthrough strategies for succeeding in the world around you. He is a trainer of NLP and a certified hypnotherapist. He is also a student and teacher of Hawaiian Huna. Contact him through his company Wake Up and Live Now at (913) 384-9450 or scott@wakeupandlivenow.com. Copyright © 2002 Scott Lofquist |
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