How to develop a sense of humor?

‘Common sense and a sense of humor are the same thing, moving at different speeds. A sense of humor is just common sense, dancing.’- William Jame

My friend suddenly doubled with laughter and I looked at her in amazement. Only a few moments ago she was glum and morose. She had had a very bad day in her work place and was at the receiving end of a tongue lashing from her boss. She was very downcast before she burst out laughing.

I too laughed when she told me the reason. Her boss was a gigantic man and was prone to overuse his hands and because of his size his hands looked like a paddle and his excited movements made it appear as though he was paddling a boat. My friend forgot her frustration when she saw the funny side of what happened.

Humor has the power of lessening your tension.

It enables you to smile and laugh.

You see the positive side of everything.

The humor I enjoyed!

My husband was prone to angry tantrums and it was really tough handling him when he was in his elements. But thankfully his anger always lasted only for a few minutes. He would look sheepish and apologize when he was back to normal. My daughter would enact his tantrums to perfection and we would have a hearty laugh and there ended my anger at his tantrums.

So every serious circumstance in life has its funny side also. When you are facing intense problems in life you tend to get carried away by the seriousness of the situation. You feel depressed and dejected. You assume that the world has closed its door on you and you are all alone in this harsh world.

But nothing is lost as yet. If you let yourself be bogged down, you will never get over your problems. When you try relentlessly you will eventually overcome it and be a winner. Imagine the face of the people who ignored you when you were down and out. These people would have assumed that you would never recover. Visualize his\her shocked look when your problems are over and you emerge victorious. Your lips would tilt in a smile.

Why is humor an effective winner?

If you take everything seriously people hesitate to come to you as they are apprehensive you will react with fury and anger at their overtures. Unless you have people’s skill you can never succeed and you cannot have people’s skill when you are serious. If on the other hand you take everything lightly, people come out of their way to approach you as they are drawn by your smiling looks and easy talk. This is another easy route to success.

Do you want to know how humor helps you to succeed?

• You are loved by everyone.
• People like to interact with you.
• You are the center of attraction.
• You have your work easily done.

What is not good humor?

• Never make fun of any religion
• Do not comment on the physical disability of others.
• Do not joke in a serious situation.
• Do not ridicule others as there is a hairline difference between ridiculing and teasing. Everyone likes teasing as it is funny, but no one likes ridiculing as it is degrading.

Right perspective

When you have a good sense of humor, it is easy for you to see things in their right perspective. Your mind is not clouded by unnecessary illusions and so you are able to think with clarity.

Do not burden yourself with an overload of worries and reservations as it will transform you into a serious person, forever worrying. There is always an end to any problem and so stop tormenting yourself. Visualize overcoming the problems and you will feel optimistic and humorous.

Comedy

What do you feel when you see a comedy show or a movie? You laugh and it makes you feel light. What do you feel when you see a tragic movie? It makes you feel heavy hearted and sad. So the true enchantment is always comedy which makes you laugh. In life also you feel pulled down when you take everything seriously. But when you are humorous you feel that there is always a way out.

‘There is nothing to cheer in my life. How can I be humorous when I am surrounded by one problem after another?’ It is true that problems can pull your energy to the rock bottom. But are you the only person to have problems? Each and every human being suffers from one problem or the other. Don’t they smile and enjoy life? If you take your problems too seriously, you will never enjoy your life to the full.

Make your mind light by thinking of good things you have and become mentally strong and cheerful. Only a mentally strong person can see the lighter side of life and enjoy it the maximum as his humorous tinge always giving him the much needed relief and optimism.

What can I do to make myself humorous?

• Learn to laugh at yourself
• Always see the lighter side of problems
• Overlook problems and be cheerful.
• Keep smiling.
• Watch comedy shows which make you feel happy and joyful.
• Think positively and joke with friends.

Humor is something that thrives between man’s aspirations and his limitations. There is more logic in humor than in anything else. Because, you see, humor is truth’. - Victor Borge

Without humor life becomes a drudgery of mere survival. Do you want enjoyment in life? Of course you want it! If you smile life smiles back at you, but when you are gloomy you lose all the joy life has to offer you.