What is humor, exactly? How do you get a sense of humor? Once you find yours, how do you use it to maximize living? If it is so important, why is it rarely mentioned in college courses without some clues for finding and using it?
The purpose of this book is to affirm, sustain, and encourage people in the practice of humor not only as a personal tool to optimize a healthy lifestyle but to maximize the benefits of humor in everyday life. These benefits include current research-based data on the use of humor to nurture creativity, to increase the capacity for memory retention, to support an optimal work environment, and to build safe communities that reflect the relational trust necessary for maximizing living.
People value humor. References to the importance of having a sense of humor are liberally sprinkled throughout the popular media. It is usually mentioned as a factor to look for when hiring as well as one of the qualities of effective employees. It is without a doubt the one quality that most of us agree is needed in life. However, it is rare to find much on the study of humor practice and the benefits gained by practicing humor.
Where does humor exist in the brain? This book is the result of a twenty-year journey delving into the connections between brain science and humor. As frequently noted, humor research is in the pioneering stages. The purposeful inclusion of stories, jokes, and quotes is designed to bring some levity to an otherwise serious look at this topic.
The benefits of humor are identified and celebrated throughout in the hopes that you will be encouraged to think about your own humor style and humor practice. Form a study group or employ this book as part of a basic technique to learn more about humor. There are several interactive components at the end of each chapter for you to utilize in a variety of ways and in a variety of group settings.
This is an invitation to you to try the tools in the "jest for fun" boxes, the cafe conversations, the anecdotes, the appendices, and the powerful leadership strategies. All suggest strategies on how you can have some fun and bring "hu-mergy" into your personal and professional life.
I have always been a huge admirer of my own work I'm one of the funniest and most entertaining writers I know.
Here is a brief overview of the chapters.
Step right up and get your humor here! The benefits of humor are extraordinary. When there is a fusion of enthusiasm, energy, joy, and hope, a peak experience emerges that most of us identify as a sense of humor. The relatively new field of positive psychology strives to understand and promote human potential that enables individuals and communities to thrive. Humor is one of the cognitive strengths connecting our basic temperament and our lifetime experiences.
This chapter provides foundational information for improving humor practice. Definitions, a historical perspective, and the benefits of humor are explored. The phenomenon of humergy, the energy that comes from humor, is investigated. Get ready for a spoonful of fun, provoking a belly laugh or at least a chuckle or two.
Each infant's brain contains a unique blueprint for humor maturation. Universal patterns of humor development are the foundation for cultivating individual growth and determining what type of humor is possible for each age or stage of development. The "growing up funny" list is an investigation of distinct phases of humor development.
Play is an integral part of humor development at all of these stages. Most children are finding a reduction oifree play as structured activities and studying consume more and more of their time. Employees are searching for ways to keep their employees happy and productive. Play is becoming more popular as an option in creating an optimal working environment.
Did you grow up funny? What is your humor foundation and current humor practice? This exploration of humor development will encourage you to begin to examine your own unique humor growth and practice.
What have we learned from brain research about humor? Two kinds of mice are providing us with information about laughter, fun, and positive emotionality.
A staggering amount of data is emerging from the biological research and imaging technology to provide compelling evidence on the significance of humor in our lives. While it is clear that fear and stress inhibit productivity and do have a correlation with depression, the research on humor and joy is a more complex process. An increasing number of studies confirm the relationship between the positive emotions and optimal living. This chapter includes a synopsis of the humor research with evidence that humor skills have a direct relation to reducing stress and increasing happiness. Information is included on what we are learning from brain imaging.
There are moments in history when nations wonder if the ability to use humor has been lost to an extraordinary tragedy, such as 9/11. There are also moments in our own lives when humor seems to be lost. The current emphasis on accountability and increased productivity has raised stress levels of many people.
Negative humor often emerges from excess stress and fear. An examination of how fear triggers an unhealthy emotional climate and how humorphobia (the fear of humor) inhibits learning is examined in this chapter. The nature of inappropriate humor, including that of bullies and victims, will be investigated. Recognizing humordoomer behavior is the key to understanding possible strategies for building better relationships with these individuals. Strategies for coping with humordoomers will be explored.
What is your humor style? The humor styles inventory will assist you in understanding why we all find humor in different things. Although both nature and nurture contribute to our sense of humor, humergy is a skill that can be enhanced with practice. While we are not exactly born with a sense of humor, temperament is a significant factor in humor development. Life experiences, age, gender, cultural background, work situation, relationships, and personality all have an impact on our humor approach. Join the humor marathon. With effort anyone can increase and enjoy a humor power workout that will improve their humor core.
Your humor workout provides benefits that:
This is it! Humor is a powerful tool for energizing peak performance and increasing productivity. This chapter highlights the stories of over thirty individuals who purposefully use humor as a tool in their work. You will be amazed at the impact they are having on so many others in various walks of life.
The goal of this chapter is to provide poignant stories from humor praction-ers on how they integrate and incorporate humor into their workplace culture. Humor can make a difference in every career path and job situation. Included are stories of using humor at funeral services and as a coping strategy for care-givers. Some descriptions include the use of humor in the grieving process and as a way to decrease the pain of those going through chemotherapy. But it is the multifaceted experiences of musicians, doctors, social workers, educators, and grief counselors that provide insights into how our lives can be enhanced with humor and laughter. These stories are riveting and will provide the opportunity for you to imagine how a focus on humor practice can energize your workplace.
If you walk into your organization or place of work, do you find happy employees and administrators? Is the emotional climate one of trust and positive energy? Three distinct leadership styles are observed in relation to humor:
The belief systems of leaders impact their emotional contribution to the level of happiness found in a work environment. The philosophy of servant leadership as a belief system will be explored, including the following principles:
The study of humor provides new perceptions into critical issues facing leaders. It allows the freedom to not only think "out of the box" but to have fun while doing so.
Significant areas of impact include the ability of humor to:
A framework for leaders is introduced that examines the content, process, and context of building leadership skills.
I handed in a script last year and the studio didn't change one word. The word they didn't change was on page 87.