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GET MORE LAUGHTER IN YOUR LIFE!
David Granirer - North America's Psychotherapist/Stand-Up Comic
Volume 3, Issue 5
Editor: David Granirer, david@psychocomic.com
Publisher: David Granirer
www.psychocomic.com

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IN THIS ISSUE
1. Welcome from the Publisher
2. Joke
3. More Thoughts On Humor And Self-Esteem
4. What’s Good Stories
5. An Opportunity To Help
6. Classified Ads
7. Contact Information


PRIVACY STATEMENT: WE WILL NOT DISTRIBUTE YOUR
EMAIL ADDRESS TO ANYONE. PERIOD.


1. WELCOME FROM THE PUBLISHER

****We’re Back!****

My comedy nights start again on Friday January 11 at Flori’s Coffee Centre, 3851 E. Hastings in North Burnaby, 2 blocks east of Boundary. To reserve (604) 294-8505.

On Friday January 18, CBC TV is coming to do a piece on that night’s headliner, and one of my star comedy students, 69 year old Mavis Pickett. It’s a great story of how taking a risk (In her case taking my stand-up comedy course) and confronting her fears changed her life. Mavis took the course twice and is now a professional comic. One day she’ll probably be a star, and the great thing is she has no investment in it! So come on out and laugh with her!


****Comedy Course****

If you’ve ever had a dream to do comedy, my 8-week Stand-Up Comedy Clinic Course at Langara College starts on the evenings of February 5 and 6. (I’m running 2 sections this term, a Tues. and Wed. class). To register call Langara at (604) 323-5322. To see testimonials from people who have taken the course go to http://www.psychocomic.com/ComedyCourse.htm

2. THIS MONTH'S JOKE

To help you lighten up, Iíve decided to start every issue with a joke. If anyone has some good clean jokes that are reasonably short, feel free to email them to me at david@psychocomic.com

Thanks again to Holly Vavrek for some more examples of real life comedy that writes itself. These are actual clippings from church newspapers:

Miss Charlene Mason sang, "I Will Not Pass This Way Again," giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.

The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict.

Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.

At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be "What is Hell ?" Come early and listen to our choir practice.

Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.

The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new tithing campaign slogan last Sunday: "I Upped My Pledge - Now Up Yours."


3. MORE THOUGHTS ON HUMOR AND SELF-ESTEEM

George Mikes, a Hungarian author and humorist, says “In lands more familiar with oppression, a joke is necessary for one’s self-esteem. Laughter is the only weapon the oppressed can use against the oppressor.” But sometimes the oppressor isn’t a dictator, it’s our feelings. When my clients describe a situation that makes them badly they often say “But I don’t want to feel this way.” Just as in a dictatorship people feel powerless to make the oppressive regime go away, in our daily lives we occasionally feel powerless to make certain emotions go away.

And yes, many personal growth philosophies declare that nothing outside of ourselves can make us feel a certain way, but the truth is that if you suddenly lose your job or someone you love and trust betrays you, you’ll likely feel hurt, scared, and angry, for good reason. Telling yourself these events are a wonderful growth opportunity probably won’t make you feel much better.

When we can’t resolve and get over negative feelings, it can eat away at our self-esteem. In these cases we need to find other methods to restore a positive sense of self. Humor helps in several ways. 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.

It also feels good to make other people laugh. Going to them and complaining endlessly usually accomplishes nothing but making us and them feel worse. Furthermore, people are much more willing to engage when the truth is spoken with a smile.

Being able to joke about our flaws also lessens the shame we have around them. Even though it’s not supposed to be, I view my comedy class as a great support group. In most support groups you tell your story and people listen in respectful silence. In comedy class you tell your story while people laugh and applaud. Former student Shawn McCreight wrote this joke:

“I’m depressed, and people don't see the positive side to depression...for example a workout for me is a snickers bar and laying down beating myself up for half an hour.”

Then at our final showcase students have 200 audience members laughing with them. They get feedback like “I loved your bi-polar jokes” “That bit about getting dumped was hilarious!” All this positive feedback and validation makes students feel accepted for who they are, and having that acceptance greatly lessens any shame they may be carrying.

To use humor for self-esteem building you don’t need to be a stand-up comic. All you need is to be willing to find humor in your flaws.

To find out about a technique for finding humor in dysfunction, read my article entitled “Laughing it Off! at http://www.psychocomic.com/ART-0002.htm

****Free Articles for Your Newsletter****

If you would like to print one of my articles on humor in the workplace in your newsletter free of charge, email me at david@psychocomic.com and Iíll send you a complete summary of all the articles Iíve written.

For other free articles about laughter go to www.psychocomic.com/Articles.htm

For free back issues of this ezine go to www.psychocomic.com/Newsletter.htm

*****GET MORE LAUGHTER IN YOUR LIFE!*****
Check out David's tapes, posters, buttons at www.psychocomic.com/Products.htm
 

4. 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 david@psychocomic.com, and if I publish yours, you get a free copy of my tape "I'm OK But YOU Need Professional Help!"  
 

Fran Mazza contributed this month’s story.

I have been working in mental health over 20 years, buffered by a good sense of humor. Some years I was doing a group on support systems and society in general for several very low functioning mentally ill hospital patients. I made a statement about sticking together with people you are comfortable with and trust, and I said because "The world can be really cold."

One of the patients in the back that rarely spoke said, "The world is not cold Fran, it's the people." I will never forget that statement. To me it opened the door for much hope and love...the world is warm and we need to seek out warm people. I have learned my greatest lessons in unexpected situations.

5. AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP

ARTISTS WITHOUT BORDERS brings psychological relief to the victims of war in the form of art and/or entertainment. They send performers and artists to refugee camps and zones of conflict. Theyíve been to Kosovo, East Timor, Chechnya and more. If youíd like more information, or to help out, (Theyíre a non-profit organization and could use donations) go to their web site http://www.artwit.org .

If anyone has a good cause they'd like to promote please email me at david@psychocomic.com
 

6. 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: www.psychocomic.com/ComedyCourse.htm
 

7. 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 www.psychocomic.com

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