I’d like to share with you what I call a Laughter Story…something I do with my Levity and Laughter Coaching clients. It is so fun, I have seen it turn a workplace culture around in a short period of time. All you have to do is say a four or five sentence story about something that has made you feel challenged, annoyed or frustrated. And after each sentence, you say Ha Ha. It is not about making light or making fun of what is hard in our life , it is about giving us the breath to face it in a healthier way.
Here is my simple story from yesterday:
Yesterday, I lost a LONG post I had been working on all morning. Ha Ha
I felt that it was the best article I had ever written. Ha Ha
And then I tried to write another and lost that one too. Ha Ha
So I took the day off from writing. Ha Ha
Then, I received serendipitously the video below and I knew this was the RIGHT message I needed to share today. WooHoo!
A Laughter Story is a small way of creating breath in a moment in which we might otherwise grind our teeth, snap at someone, or get stressed. By saying the simple Ha Ha’s, we allow ourselves to take one small step back from the moment at hand. And when we allow ourselves to take a step back, we can think better, breathe better and make a choice that feels right.
Does it feel ridiculous to say the Laughter Story the first time? Yeah! Do you stop caring about feeling ridiculous because you feel less stressed? Yeah! I encourage you to try it today….tell someone a laughter story and brighten both of your days.
I share the video below because it is deeply inspirational to me. I have known this poem for a long time, but hearing the way Maya Angelou recites her own poetry is so moving. And in this short clip, she embodies what levity is and what the laughter story is all about.
It does not matter what is going on around us. What challenge life has dropped in our lap today, yesterday or tomorrow. We deserve to be able to rise up, be buoyant and live with lightness in our hearts no matter what.
And here she is:
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow. I needed both your blog tips. Ha Ha and that wonderful poem this morning.
It’s been one step forward three steps back kind of week. Ha ha
The sadder I let myself be, the less I did. Ha Ha
This morning, I resolved that nothing will stop me. Ha ha
And I followed Twitter to your post. Whoo Woo!
Thanks.
“It is not about making light or making fun of what is hard in our life , it is about giving us the breath to face it in a healthier way.”
Such a beautiful way to describe the human condition. We all suffer. We can’t stop this, but we can find a healthier way of dealing with our pain. It’s a big part of the reason that I practice Yoga. It gives me a chance to step back and focus on my needs. What they are and how to get them met, and also adjust my expectations.
We all deserve to rise up, it’s a matter of how we choose to cope with what we’ve been handed. To Karl’s point, we all struggle and suffer, it’s part of life. but we can’t ignore it, nor can we stay there. We must feel it and decide to rise…and then figure out how best to do so.
Thanks for sharing – it is moving to see her recite her own work!
Katie,
I can see how that would work. Ha Ha!
I also love Maya and have told of her humble beginnings in many of my talks and workshops. I watched it to the end cuz I wouldn’t miss one second. And I couldn’t help but laugh when she did.
Brilliant, Katie; thank you for sharing your “ha ha” method of getting through tough circumstances (ha ha!), and for sharing this wonderful Maya Angelou video. “Does my sassiness upset you?” What a great thing for me to hear today — on this day of all days. A shift is taking place, and I laugh as I watch my human self wonder, “MY GOD, what is happening inside me?” while my spirit self gently encourages this massive change… Practically egging it on.
Best to you always!
Your “Ha ha” method is a simple way of defying the reaction of our mind when it faces chaos. Powerful indeed!
Hi Katie
You know just that line alone “and still I rise” is so powerful!!! I love the video and the idea of the laughter story. When I was reading about you losing your post, at first I thought, well that is just Katie, making the best moment of any situation…but then I read the point about adding in the “ha ha” and loved the idea even more, as all of us can do it
I have learned one thing in life that has served me well, and that is, every situation, no matter how big or small can be made into the best or the worst of things, and in the end, don’t we want to feel good? So why not act in the direction of good, not bad and make every moment the best possible for us!
I’m here via Lance and the Jungle of Life and just wanted to say how much I appreciate today’s post and also the interview. And it was great to see Lance Car Dancing.
Love this post! I love the Laughter Story and have been using it often. It’s such a powerful way to give distance to a problem and give you a fresh perspective that then allows you to be more creative in finding solutions. Or just letting the drama go.
And Maya Angelou. Oh. Thank you SO much for posting this video, Katie. Love it!!
Hi Katie
I just had to come over and see what a “Levity coach” blogged about.
Love it… looking at the funny side of life, not always easy.
That is some poem.
Maya Angelou has a fantastic voice and super facial expressions – can’t imagine anyone else reading that poem.
Thanks for sharing.