GET MORE LAUGHTER IN YOUR LIFE!

David Granirer - North America's Psychotherapist/Stand-Up Comic

Volume 1, Issue 7

Editor: David Granirer, mailto:granirer@pro.net

Publisher: David Granirer

<http://www.granirer.com>

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IN THIS ISSUE

1.ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Welcome from the Publisher

2.ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ How to Turn Negativity Into Laughter

3.ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Whatís Good Stories

4.ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Classified Ads

5.ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Contact Information

PRIVACY STATEMENT: WE WILL NOT DISTRIBUTE YOUR EMAIL

ADDRESS TO ANYONE. PERIOD.

1.ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ WELCOME FROM THE PUBLISHER

Hi Folks,

This monthís issue looks at how to use humor to overcome negativity. I think youíll find the techniques helpful in your work and personal life.

*****Come Have A Laugh!*****

My stand-up comedy shows continue at Cafe Madeleine, 3763 West 10th Ave, Vancouver. Clean, intelligent comedy in a smoke-free environment, Fridays at 8:00 p.m. Reservations recommended (604) 224-5558. Bring in this newsletter and buy 1 entree, get 2nd for 50% off. Opening the show are students from my Langara College Stand-Up Comedy Clinic Course.

2.ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ HOW TO TURN NEGATIVITY INTO LAUGHTER

We all get cranky and complain from time to time. It might be about the weather, our job, our boss, our coworkers, our dysfunctional families, the government, or more general topics like ìlife sucksî or ìwhy me?î

Known in Yiddish as ìkvetching,î this low-level recycling of negativity seems to serve little purpose. It poisons our interactions with everyone. The only people it attracts are other complainers, and we all know how depressing and draining a marathon whining session can be.

Let me also distinguish complaining from emotional pain. True emotional pain is tied to a situation like an illness, death in the family, loss of job, etc. Emotional pain can also come about as a result of depression, unresolved grief, loss, or abuse issues from the past. In these cases itís very helpful to support and listen to people. Complaining comes from a place of emotional deadness. Itís like weíre playing old tapes that have little true emotional resonance. Itís often very unconscious and tends to focus on things outside of our control, making us feel like disempowered victims, or as a counsellor I know terms it, ìpassengers in our own cars.î

Underneath the complaining there may be true emotions of sadness, anger or despair, but the act of complaining about how ìlife sucksî does nothing to resolve these underlying feelings, and instead reinforces them.

So how do we bring humor to all this? One way is to exaggerate something until it becomes absurd. The next time you need to complain, do it consciously and deliberately. Here are two techniques:

1.Ý Instead of going to someone and complaining, go to him or her and talk about how much you love to complain. Tell your partner to agree that complaining is a great thing, and together talk about all enjoyment you get from sitting around and whining. Most people canít do this for more than a minute or two before cracking up.

2.Ý Find a friend or a coworker, and for three to five minutes try and outcomplain each other. If she has a mild headache, you have a migraine so bad it threatens to kill you. If heís overworked this week, youíve been overworked for the past ten years. Once again, you probably wonít be able to keep a straight face for more than about a minute or two.

These techniques also work well in groups. If youíre part of a work team or attend regular staff meetings, have the whole group do this together. Itís a great way to break the cycle of complaining and create an atmosphere where people are ready to move on to something more productive.

For a more detailed description of this technique please see my article ìLaughing It Off: Using Humor To Overcome Neurosisî at <http://www.granirer.com/Articles.htm>

For other free articles about laughter go to <http://www.granirer.com/Articles.htm>

For free back issues of this ezine go to <http://www.granirer.com/Newsletter.htm>

*****GET MORE LAUGHTER IN YOUR LIFE!*****

Check out David's tapes, posters, buttons at

<http://www.granirer.com/Products.htm>

3.ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ WHATíS GOOD STORIES

Itís so easy to see all the bad things around us, that sometimes we forget about all the great things that go on. And we need to hear about good things because that gives us hope and inspires us to go out and do more good things.

In this section, I want to hear from you. Whatís happened in your life thatís good? What things have people done that inspire you to be kind to others? What funny things have happened?

Email your short stories to me at granirer@pro.net, and if I publish yours, you get a free copy of my tape ìIím OK But YOU Need Professional Help!î

This monthís story is contributed by Jansi Sauer of Wenatchee, Washington:

This week is Secretary's Week, and Wednesday is Secretary's Day, and staff usually give me cards, candy, flowers and a lunch. Although it's always nice to be recognized, I've been uncomfortable with the accolades, feeling they may or may not be deserved, but since there's an official "day," there is pressure on their part to recognize me. Many other staff members also do good work but are never recognized because they don't have a special "day."

A much better thing to do is something we did in our office three years ago, and will do again this summer. This is a Staff Appreciation Day, and everyone prepares for this day by making computer cards, or cards we might have on hand at home, and sending one to anyone in the office who has done something special for one of us or for us all. We try to be specific about the event, and explain how their effort made a difference to us and how we appreciate them for it.Ý

We don't have these too often. If it were an annual event, it would not be special, it would be a responsibility or a burden. The delivery of the cards is a private matter. It's not a popularity contest. No one counts who got how many cards, but it is a total "feel good" experience all around, and there is also a potluck that day. I heartily recommend every office adopt Staff Appreciation Day!

4.ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ CLASSIFIED ADS

Speakers:Ý Learn how to incorporate stand-up comedy into your

presentations. Check out Davidís stand-up comedy skills coaching

for presenters at: <http://www.granirer.com/ComedyCourse.htm>

5.ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ CONTACT INFORMATION

David Granirer gives laughter in the workplace presentations for hundreds

of organizations throughout North America. For more information on

his presentations, stand-up comedy, products, and articles call

(604) 205-9242 or go to http://www.granirer.com.

Special thanks to <http://www.e-zinez.com>