Of all the strategies that I offer to audience members when we're focusing on ways to insulate themselves against stress and be happier, none is seemingly simpler than the one I offer today: start and end each day with laughter. Here's a story that I hope will put this strategy into perspective.
While our son and his wife vacationed in P.E.I., my wife and I dog-sat their golden retriever, Dave. Dave is a typical "golden," mellow, easy-going and generally very happy, so it concerned us when he appeared to be a little down after a few days on our watch. Remembering that our daughter-in-law, Tara, has a daily routine of singing the Good Morning song to Dave, I decided to become the surrogate singer, so each day I began with my painful rendition of Good Morning, Dave. You should have seen his reaction. His big brown eyes lit up, he wagged his tail and he jiggled all over, obviously pleased that his day was starting in this way. The rest of Dave's stay with us was pleasantly uneventful.
There was also a positive spin-off effect, and I was the beneficiary. I don't consider myself to be a morning person, and it's usually half-past coffee by the time I kick into gear. The Good Morning song changed all that. By singing heartily to Dave at the break of day, I was literally forcing myself to have fun by being silly. I found myself laughing heartily at Dave's response, and the simple little routine got my day started in a very positive way.
The happy time spent with Dave served to remind me how important it is to set a good tone for the day. When you start off feeling good, you are better positioned to handle the inevitable stressors that come along. By contrast, think how you feel after listening to the news or reading the morning paper with details of all the problems in the world. I'm not suggesting that you live in isolation, but after spending many years in the media I can assure you that bad news gets the top billing. By putting laughter first, you'll come out ahead. Similarly, laughter at the end of your day provides a wonderful way to unwind. It also sends you off to dreamland in a great state of mind, one that is much more positive than reacting to the negative images on TV news.
If this simple suggestion works so well, why don't more people follow the advice? (Most people don't get past the point of agreeing that it is a good idea.) I believe that it's because some effort is required, a shift in habits and the discipline to get things organized initially. You need to come up with specific ways to get yourself laughing: books, cartoons, audio, video or the Internet provide lots of good material. Children or pets (or their owners) can be counted on to perform, and interaction with other people can provide lighter moments.
Folks who like to have their daily fill of the news seem to have the hardest time budging from their routines. For some, TV news is the last thing they absorb before hitting the hay; others reach for the morning paper religiously as if it contained their plan for the day. Let me run a disclaimer here: to convert to the laughter first and last approach, you do not have to give up your right to know what in the world is going on ¼ it just means a time shift. Since a large portion of the news deals with negative stories, give yourself a buffer by placing humour in the key spots at the start and end of your day.
For those who are willing to spend some time and a little money, a wonderful reward awaits them.
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