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GET MORE LAUGHTER IN YOUR LIFE!
David Granirer - North America's Psychotherapist/Stand-Up Comic
Volume 3, Issue 10
Editor: David Granirer, david@psychocomic.com
Publisher: David Granirer
www.psychocomic.com

Please help us grow by forwarding this e-zine on to others!

IN THIS ISSUE
1. Welcome from the Publisher
2. Joke
3. Take Pride In Your Dysfunction
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

****Come Have a Laugh!****

My stand-up comedy shows continue at Flori’s Coffee Centre, 3851 East Hastings, Bby. Clean, intelligent comedy in a smoke-free environment, Fridays at 8:00 p.m. Reservations recommended (604) 294-8505. The shows feature students from my Langara College Stand-Up Comedy Clinic Course.

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

Paul Webber of Webber Training helps find the humor in health care. He promotes infection control through a unique and funny approach. The following is an example. Check out his site at http://www.webbertraining.com

Clean Hands – More Sex

The lights are dim, the wine bottle drained, the candles flicker, pulses and passions race, loins burn. You can’t control what comes next. A sleepless night of action in the embrace of . . . a toilet bowl.

Somebody didn’t wash their hands. Somebody came into contact with some sick people during the day, shook their hands, used their pens, shared their germs. Somebody could have had a sweaty evening of skyrockets and passion, but somebody didn’t wash their hands during the day, inoculating themselves with those other people’s germs. Instead of hugging their beloved, somebody’s hugging porcelain.

People who wash their hands live healthier. All things being equal, hand washers have more sex than sneezing, coughing, vomiting non-washers.

Clean hands . . . more sex.


3. TAKE PRIDE IN YOUR DYSFUNCTION

As organizational change and uncertainty increases, so does our stress. To survive, we need our sense of humor more than ever before, and here’s why. Research indicates that as stressful events increased, individuals with a high ability to use coping humor showed less of an increase in disturbed moods. Another study reveals that these individuals report higher levels of self-esteem, and that coping humor has positive effects on the immune system.

But there’s more. A study done on the U.S army found that new cadets who use coping humor during training are more likely not to quit. And believe it or not, there’s even evidence indicating military leaders lacking a sense of humor about themselves might be more likely to be involved in military aircraft accidents.

But what is coping humor? When things go wrong, we often react in one of two ways. We externalize our feelings, blaming or lashing out at others, or we internalize our feelings, blaming or getting angry at ourselves. Coping humor involves a third choice - laughing at ourselves and our situation.

To develop coping humor, start by taking pride in your failings. Boast about them. I call this trick reverse bragging. For example, Brad Pitt is more successful and attractive than I, but I’m better at being a geek. Anthony Robbins may be more positive and self-assured, but I’m better at whining and complaining.

Much of our stress comes from the fear that others will find out we’re flawed and think less of us. Boasting about our flaws robs others of the chance to disapprove, since joining in the laughter puts them on our side. And by letting others know we’re aware of our flaws, we make it harder for them to criticize us, since we’ve anticipated what they might say.

So what flaws do you have to brag about? What dysfunctional thing can you do better than anyone else? Are you good at catastrophizing, worrying, doubting yourself, or people pleasing?

This month I’ve introduced you to the overall concept of reverse bragging. Next month I’ll give you the formula for using it in your daily life.



****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!"  
 

Joy Knudson from Everett, WA contributed this month’s story.

I work with welfare-to-work mothers, and a recent class being trained in
Medical Office skills is about to graduate. Before having them interview
with local medical HR departments, we do mock interviews.
In the midst on one such interview, I asked a typical
my 'applicant': “What is the greatest strength you would bring to
my company if I were to hire you?”

Instead of the usual answers about dependability or accuracy of skills, she
broke into a huge grin, laughed, and said "Joy! I will bring you
joy. If I can't help my co-workers and the public have a more joy-filled
day, I don't belong there or anywhere else on this earth." She was so
spontaneous and sincere that it almost brought tears to my eyes. What a
wonderful sense of self, of purpose, in such an unexpected place.

After we stopped role-playing, she was concerned about blurting out such
an "unprofessional" answer. I assured her that although it wasn't an
answer I had ever suggested to anyone, her sincerity and the
love/humor shining from her face made it a perfect answer for her,
and not to lose it! Think what would happen if employers actively
sought that "skill" in all their new hires. Wow.

5. AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP

ANGELS WANTED TO HELP FUND STAND-UP COMEDY COURSE FOR MENTAL HEALTH CONSUMERS!!!!

Canadian Mental Health Association Richmond Branch, BC Schizophrenia Society and myself are trying to start a stand-up comedy course for mental health consumers. The objective is to help them build confidence and self-esteem through developing and performing comedy about their mental health problems. It would also be a great way to educate the public and dispel the stigma surrounding mental health issues.

If you have any ideas about where we could get funding, or know any angels who’d like to support this project please email me at david@psychocomic.com

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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