Many have asked me recently how I stay “the happiest girl in the world” despite some very difficult circumstances. I have addressed that in other posts (Happiest Girl) and will continue to do so, but today’s guest post by my friend, Becky Cortino, gives a glimpse into the importance of finding humor in every day!
Finding Humor in Every Day – by Becky Cortino
Sometimes, despite our best efforts, things don’t turn out as planned. On days like these – and we all have them – an inconvenient challenge quickly grows into breath-taking proportions. Or maybe your day’s path morphs into a surprise obstacle course, filled with one snag after another. But there you are, running that race and blazing a trail undaunted, because you must see this through!
Unnecessary complication to a day’s activity has potential to impact progress by diverting our focus, in dealing with unforeseen impediments. Wending our way through the mess is wearisome. After a while, it begins to take a toll, reflected by mood and actions. All of it weighs heavily on our minds. You’ve been here before and know this will pass, but it’s difficult.
Finding an effective strategy to cope with inevitable unwelcomed pockets of resistance, helps us to make it through, arriving at day’s end more intact. At first suggestion, recommending looking for ways to add humor to your everyday as a solution seems counter-intuitive in that anxious place — but it works! Humor exists all around us, sometimes waiting to be found. Unfortunately, in the gravity of a heavy moment, or during a stressful event, humor may be missed right at the time it’s needed most.
Appropriate humor helps reframe unpleasant, uncomfortable, even sad circumstances. Humor reduces related anxiety and tension, providing needed balm to soothe and refresh.
Humor opens pathways of coping more confidently with a vexing situation. It can also help to diffuse an exasperating experience for those around you, helping others to relax and unify your effort or team.
You might wonder how humor can be found in the midst of difficulty. It may seem impossible, but the answer is simple. Look for humorous things, or ways of reframing predicaments, so they will be funny. Doing this may not seem easily accomplished during the storms of life, but with a change in perspective, bright, humorous glimmers of light become visible.
These brilliant flickers of hope call us through our darkness, back into the light. Often, they have been steadfastly burning through a long, dread-filled black night, or a crazy-busy overscheduled day, awaiting discovery. Perhaps we find a new way to view an annoyance from the funny flipside through a wink, a nod, a clue, or idea.
Our problem won’t disappear, but humor allows us to laugh about our plight, or something that is funny. This gives much-needed relief, and creates a feeling of being able to handle complications in a positive way. It assures us of hope in times we cannot control, giving peace even while wicked winds of discord or sadness may whip around us.
Admittedly, we do feel better when we lighten up, don’t we? The effect is not really all in our heads, as there are physiological reasons for this phenomenon. Ongoing research continues, and real science points out the positive health benefits humor has on the body.
Physiologically, laughter releases endorphins into the body, with a similar exhilarating effect of strenuous exercise. Oxygen intake is increased through laughter, replenishing and invigorating our body’s cells. Through laughter, a body’s threshold to withstand pain is increased, immunity is boosted, while relieving stress.
The simple act of laughter has some powerful results doesn’t it? In addition to health benefits, sharing a smile and looking for a glimmer of light in that dark moment, can help to brighten your day, and others’ too! It takes practice, but once you realize the difference a little levity in those trying times makes, it will soon become a natural reaction, bringing you through adversity.
Where can you find humor today?
To find out more about Becky, you can find her here:Â Becky Cortino
If you enjoyed Becky’s post, you may enjoy her newest book, “Gift of Heart: Impacting Lives Through Christian Creative Arts.” Â Gift of Heart
I have a very sad friend these days. A little black humor has been of great help!
Humour can be found in the most solemn of places.
I remember attending a clown’s funeral. He was dressed in his costume, painted face, smile and all. The hearse kept honking every few seconds, smoke came out of the engine, the driving wheel came off in the driver’s hand and the doors fell off.
They could not close the coffin because of the clown’s big feet sticking out.
God bless.
Now that’s a funeral I bet no one will forget!
I definitely can relate to those days when you just have to laugh or else you will cry! I had one yesterday.
There’s nothing wrong with a good cleansing cry now and then, but the laugh will have more health benefits and turn your mood around!
Humour – it’s big in our house,I find it will lift the cloud so that I can actually think straighter about a situation or circumstances. It’s like it levels the playing field, I can see clearer and I’m ready to pick up and keep going feeling fresher.
Tracey, I’ve seen exactly the same thing at our house. I have one son who can get me laughing faster than anyone else, with such a quick wit. It doesn’t change the circumstances, but helps me look at things from a fresh perspective!
You have encouraged me to lighten up, to enjoy the little things more. Wonderful post!
Kathleen, then the post served its intended purpose! Blessings!
Fabulous example of Lives well lived with intention, purpose passion and HUMOR . 🙂 visiting you and Becky this week as your neighbor at #WeekEndBrew. feel free to visit back anytime.
All those aspects are important: intention, purpose, passion, and humor. They make the world a better place, and living a more satisfying endeavor!
What great tips!! We all need to remember to laugh! Thank you for sharing with us at the #HomeMattersParty
Yes, we all do need to remember to laugh. We can get in the habit of taking life a little too seriously!
Yep. We laughed our way through cancer–it works! I tend to take myself too seriously during a crisis, so I’m learning to look for the funny and have a good laugh. I’d rather have laugh wrinkles than frown wrinkles when I’m old!
Anita, we did the same thing. When cancer struck our family, we intentionally, consciously chose to keep the negativity out of our home and let only the positive in, and that included lots of laughter. It didn’t change our circumstances but it definitely changed our perspective — for the better!
I just had a belly laugh the other day, in the midst of some current trials. What a blessing laughter is!
Elizabeth, I did too, and it felt so good. Things have been so serious, but it felt good just to laugh. A cheerful heart does good like a medicine!