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How to
Use Humor to Improve Your Relationships by Mike Moore
Humor has long been considered one
of the most effective tools to judge the quality of any relationship. If
there is laughter present you can assume that the relationship is a
healthy one. When the laughter ceases you can be quite certain that the
relationship is on the down slide. This laughter barometer can be
applied to any relationship at home, at work and at play. Laughter means
that you’re having fun and fun means that things are going well.. Take a
look at the relationships around you. Do the couples laugh a lot
together? Has the laughter stopped in some of your relationships?
Here are a few ideas you can use to make certain that laughter remains
an ever present reality in your relationships thus ensuring their
quality and endurance. Remember introducing humor to previously
humorless relationships might take time but the results will be worth
the effort. Start slowly by working on your own fun loving, cheery
disposition. Laughter and humor are contagious so it won’t be long
before others catch the bug.
* Remember that a sense of humor is learned, not inherited.
* Commit to becoming a humor hound. Look for humor everywhere. When
something strikes you funny enjoy it. Let the laughter flow. After the
funny event has passed recall it and enjoy it and laugh again.
* Begin to cultivate an atmosphere of humor and laughter in your
relationships. Try to enjoy and share humor as often as you can.
* If you don ’t laugh as much as you used to and want to correct the
situation start associating with humorous, fun loving people and avoid
the downers.
* Learn to laugh at yourself. If you don’t, you leave the job to others.
* Look for funny items in your newspaper and cut them out and share
them. I recall reading the want ads one night and discovered this gem :
“ The successful applicant should have 203 years experience.” Obviously
the writer meant to say 2 or 3 years experience. I immediately cut it
out and placed it in my collection for future use.
* Encourage others to share their humor. Listen and appreciate it when
they do. When someone sees that you have enjoyed their humorous
contribution they will be eager to continue sharing.
* In my full day humor workshops I always ask the participants to break
up into groups and begin sharing the funniest thing that has ever
happened to them. The laughter that this simple activity generates is a
joy to behold. Try this will your friends sometime.
* Collect cartoons and jokes and put them on display on the fridge or
the bulletin board. Make sure to avoid racist, sexist or filthy humor.
The is plenty of good clean humor to go around without resorting to
these. Remember that there is a difference between dirty and earthy
humor. I personally like earthy humor. I don’t appreciate dirty
material.
* Watch comedy movies and television programs as often a possible.
* Use humor to neutralize conflict in your relationships. When things
get tense use self deprecating humor to lighten things up. I remember
one evening having an argument with my wife, Carol. In the heat of the
moment she said something totally out of character. She said something
hurtful. In my surprise I looked at her and said, “ Carol, when you say
things like that you stoop to my level.” She started to laugh and so did
I. It wasn’t long before things were back to normal.
Good luck on your journey to HA HA Land.
About the Author
Mike Moore is an international speaker/ writer/ cartoonist on humor and
human potential. Visit him at
http://www.motivationalplus.com
http://www.motivationalplus.com/cartoons.html
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