I walked into laughter around the reception area this morning at my Kingsway office. I was quickly brought up to speed and laughed as everyone else laughed for the 2nd time. It was a funny little happening and all in good fun as one in the group recounted how he drove off absent mindedly yesterday morning with his coffee cup on the roof of his car put there as he fumbled for his keys.
Like the others I had a hearty laugh and the benefits from the laugh – increased energy and positive feeling – lingered on throughout the day. I grew up in a large family – I had five rambunctious brothers – humour was a great coping mechanism. And today, no matter which brother I talk to, there is always a good laugh within minutes of our conversation.
I have noticed over the recent years how serious everyone is almost all the time. Smiles that use to be frequent aren’t there anymore. Anger, anxiety, depression, stress have increased to levels that negatively impact the daily performance of individuals.
In my counselling and coaching sessions, I often use humour to help put the client at ease. And, when I present in front of an audience, humour is imperative at the beginning of the presentation especially to gain the audience’s attention.
Laughter is a way to relieve tension and to cope with stress. It can help you shift your mindset to acknowledge and then address the issues that may be troubling you. Laughter is a necessary component to work life balance.
Learning to laugh is necessary for your own mental health. Share a smile or a laugh with someone today.
