I’m deadly serious when it comes to the matter of fun & laughter. They are core values of mine. I love laughter - hearing people laugh, making people laugh, seeing people laugh, laughing myself. Those big old belly laughs, the roars, the sniggers, the wry smiles - all of it. I LOVE HAVING FUN! I know, I know, who doesn’t right? So let me delve deeper into just why I love it so much and why I think it’s so important to have fun in business.
Laughter is like the ultimate authenticity gauge (another core value of mine). We all know what a fake laugh sounds like - there’s no heart to it. And we all know what a fake smile looks like - there’s no sparkle to it. When we laugh or smile with someone for real, we just know that it’s real and connected - and what a juicy joyful and loving feeling that is.
'“Laughter is the best medicine” - that famous quote. Now I’m not a doctor but on a quick google search, the health benefits of laughing are HUGE. Feel good hormones are released and whizz all around the body, stress hormones lower, ab workout anyone? But seriously we don’t need a doctor to tell us how great laughing is.
Here’s another fun thing about laughter. Have you ever laughed when you’re scared? I laugh when I go on rollercoasters and fairground rides (which isn’t every often because I don’t like them). Apparently it’s a coping mechanism for fear. Although it’s not a real laugh, like those big belly laughs, it still send signals to the brain to relax, to soften, to release the tension and constriction that comes with feeling scared and fearful (apparently - I’m not a scientist either).
Ok, so what has any of this got to do with business?
Fun & laughter are a power tool for firing up your creativity which in turn can revolutionise the way you approach your life and work.
When we laugh we feel light and spacious in body and mind, which makes us more open and receptive. In this loosened and expansive energetic space we are more playful and creative. And it’s from this place of creativity that we can: explore more possibilities & opportunities; find different solutions; innovate; see our horizons with greater clarity; dream without limitations; evolve; move forward; grow and learn - you name it creativity allows us to do things with a greater sense of ease, fluidity and life.
Let’s face it. Sometimes it can all get very serious. In the personal & professional development journey (or ride as I like to call it) it’s easy to get burnout - binging on all the podcasts, self help books, online courses, training materials. When we run our own business or work for ourselves we can all too often feel the weight and responsibility of the load. Getting into this state makes us feel heavy and constricted.
We can’t and won’t learn or grow when we’re overwhelmed, stressed and clammed up. Learning and growth happens from a relaxed and open state of being.
Let me tell you a funny story…
I was on a yoga retreat earlier this year. On the final day we all spent some time writing and reflecting on what we wanted to let go of. That night we built a fire and we went around the fire offering our pieces of paper with all our heart poured scribbles on to the flames. Some people said a few words, other simply walked forward and placed their on the fire in silence - releasing what they needed, how they needed it.
Then the best thing happened. It got round to one of the women in the group, the fire was crackling with our papers, she stepped forward and said something deeply personal, profound and meaningful. I can’t remember what she said because it has been eclipsed by what happened next... She threw her piece of paper onto the fire as we all watched in respectful silence. And the paper got caught on a branch that was actually nowhere near the flames, the paper was just dangling there - both us and the paper left hanging in this incomplete moment. Reluctantly, she stepped back toward the fire, picked up her paper and gave it another try. This time it landed next to the base of the fire but didn’t catch. Cue eruption of uncontrollable laughter from her and the group. (There’s probably also a deeper message in this story from the Universe - but I’ll save that for another time).
You see, she didn’t need the severity of our silence to hold her in her heaviness anymore than we did. She needed to share and release what had been making her feel heavy because she needed this cathartic release to literally lighten up her very being - to fully eclipse the things that has been weighing her down.
It was perfect because it was beautiful and hilarious, heavy and light, planned and unexpected.
What we know for sure is that we will all experience the stressful, heavy and challenging times.
So we need to get serious when it comes to keeping our buoyancy aids pumped up at all times by prioritising more fun.
Are you having enough fun when it comes to your work… your life even?!
Are you laughing enough?
What areas of your work could do with a bit of playfulness & mischievousness?
What can you do to create more moments of lightness each day?
Seriously - What’s the worst that can happen? I challenge you (just for fun) to schedule more fun into your week and watch how it begins to seep into all areas of your business and life. Let it catch like wildfire!
