| GET MORE LAUGHTER IN YOUR LIFE! David Granirer - North America's Psychotherapist/Stand-Up Comic Volume 1, Issue 9 Editor: David Granirer, mailto:granirer@pro.net Publisher: David Granirer http://www.granirer.com Please help us grow by forwarding this e-zine on to others! IN THIS ISSUE 1. Welcome From The Publisher 2. Using Humor To Build Self-Esteem 3. What's Good Stories 4. Classified Ads 5. Contact Information PRIVACY STATEMENT: WE WILL NOT DISTRIBUTE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS TO ANYONE. PERIOD. 1. WELCOME FROM THE PUBLISHER *****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 one entree, get second for 50% off. Opening the show are students from my Langara College Stand-Up Comedy Clinic Course. If you've ever had a dream to do comedy, my 8-week Stand-Up Comedy Clinic Course at Langara College starts on Oct 10 and 11 (I'm running 2 sections this term). To register call Langara at 323-5322, course #104101. To see testimonials from people who have taken the course go to http://www.granirer.com/ComedyCourse.htm 2. USING HUMOR TO BUILD SELF-ESTEEM by David Granirer (c) 2000 In my three years of teaching Stand-Up Comedy Clinic at Langara College, I've seen some amazing things happen. Though the course isn't intended as therapy, I've watched people overcome their fears, build confidence, and have personal breakthroughs as a result of taking it. One student even overcame her fear of flying. She told me that once she'd done stand-up in front of 200 people she felt like she could do anything. So what is it about doing comedy that creates these kinds of experiences, and given that most people don't necessarily want to get up on stage, how do we apply these principles to everyday life? As a counsellor in private practice for ten years, I've often thought that doing stand-up comedy had as many if not more benefits than therapy. And that's because stand-up comedy is based on being honest about who you are, taking your flaws, fears, neuroses, and crises, and turning them into an act. In stand-up comedy your weaknesses are your strengths. Good comedy is based on turning pain into laughter, and if you have no pain in your life, you have no act! According to psychoanalyst Harvey Mindess, "The very act of making fun of our inferior position raises us above it." When we joke about our flaws, we create an inverse kind of superiority. Other people may be more accomplished or talented, but we're better at being less than them. In other words, Brad Pitt may be more successful and attractive than I, but I'm better at being a geek. Furthermore, when we joke about our failings and inferiority, we laugh and then feel better, which is exactly what restoring our self-esteem is all about. Basically, using a positive coping mechanism like humor to make ourselves feel better builds our self-esteem. Unfortunately, people often resort to all sorts of unhealthy coping mechanisms like drinking, smoking, eating, overworking, etc. to make themselves feel good. And while these mechanisms may give them a short-term buzz, in the long run they undermine self-esteem, because deep down the users know they're doing something self-destructive. So here's a tip for finding the humor in your life and using it to build self-esteem. This contrary attitude exercise is something I teach in my comedy course. You take something about yourself or your life that you consider negative, and talk about how much you love it, and why you love it. So the result might look like "I love being bald because other people can use my forehead as a mirror." Or "I love being stressed out because it reminds me of Christmas with the family." Maybe these jokes wouldn't cut it as part of Jay Leno's monologue, but they will give you a chuckle and make you feel better about yourself. And don't stop there. How about "I love being Codependent because..." or "I love being a loser because..." Email me at granirer@pro.net if you come up with something good and I'll publish it in my next e-zine! The prize for the best line is a copy of my poster "Twelve Steps For The Humorously Challenged." HEALING THROUGH COMEDY I'm running a special 10 week course called "COMIC COURAGE: HEAL YOURSELF THROUGH STAND-UP COMEDY" at the The Healing Centre at Vancouver Hospital starting October 10, where people with health problems and other challenges empower themselves by taking their stress and trauma and turning it into a comedy routine! This course combines comedy and therapy, and is for anyone who wants to use their sense of humor to overcome setbacks and adversity. It takes place on Tuesday afternoons from 1-4 pm. To register call (604) 875-8284, or call me for more information (604) 205-9242. My ultimate dream is to do a special stand-up comedy course for cancer patients. I think it would be incredibly healing for these folks to get up on stage and speak their truth to a roomful of people who laugh and applaud, not to mention a great way of dispelling the stigma of what it means to have cancer. If anyone out there has any ideas of who to connect with to get funding and support for this course(drug companies, cancer groups etc.) please let me know at granirer@pro.net or call (604) 205-9242. 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. WHAT'S GOOD STORIES It's 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. What's happened in your life that's 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 "I'm OK But YOU Need Professional Help!" This month's story is from Leslie Tessman, an elementary school teacher: I teach in an elementary school. One day I was walking down the hallway and I overheard our P.E. teacher talking very sincerely to a little Kindergarten girl. As I got closer, I saw he was squatting down so they could be face to face. He was telling her why they had a rule that said no running in the halls. She was watching him very intently. When he finished lecturing her he said, "Now Lisa did you learn anything from this talk?" She looked at him with her wide innocent eyes and said in an amazed voice, "You have no hair on the top of your head!" True story. Go and giggle with children today! DO A GOOD DEED! Help fight world hunger and save the rainforests! If you go to the hunger site http://www.thehungersite.com and the rainforest site http://www.therainforestsite.com and click on the appropriate buttons they will donate food to a hungry person and also help save the rainforests. You can visit these sites once a day to make donations. The site is sponsored by various businesses who fund the donations in exchange for exposure and good PR. However, to make a donation there is nothing you need to buy. 4. CLASSIFIED ADS Speakers: Learn how to incorporate stand-up comedy into your presentations. Check out David's stand-up comedy skills coaching for presenters at: http://www.granirer.com/ComedyCourse.htm 5. CONTACT INFORMATION David Granirer gives laughter in the workplace presentations helping hundreds of organizations throughout North America reduce stress, increase wellness, and cope with change. 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 |
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