David J. Pollay's Blog

Are You Laughing? Part IV

I hope your weekend is going great! 

Here’s the fourth post in our series on the importance of laughter in our lives.   Here’s part one.  Here’s part two.  Here’s part three.

Part Four

Psychologist Willibald Ruch is one of the world’s leading researchers on humor. Here is one of Willibald’s research sites.  He’s a good guy and a great researcher.

Willibald has found in his research that “habitual laughter can affect physiological changes for the better in musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, endocrine, immunological, and/or neural systems.” 

Ruch goes on to write in his chapter on humor in Christopher Peterson and Martin Seligman’s book, Character Strengths and Virtues, that individuals who have the strength of humor “would strongly endorse such statements as the following:

-         Whenever my friends are in a gloomy mood, I try to tease them out of it.

-         I welcome the opportunity to brighten someone else’s day with laughter.

-         Most people would say I am fun to be with.

-         I try to add some humor to whatever I do.

-         I never allow a gloomy situation to take away my sense of humor.

-         I can usually find something to laugh or joke about even in trying situations.”

We value people in our lives who consistently know how to cheer us up and increase our enjoyment in life.  We all appreciate a good laugh. 

We should be grateful anytime we can answer “yes” to the question, “Are you laughing?” 

Humor is good for life.

This week: 

Think about the important people in your life.  How could you bring a little more humor to your relationships this week?  What could you do to have some fun with the people you care about?

As always, let me know how you’re doing when you have time.  And remember to share your stories with me.

Best to you,

David

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David J. Pollay is the creator of The Law of the Garbage Truck™.  He is a syndicated columnist with the North Star Writers Group, creator and host of The Happiness Answer™ television program, and an internationally sought after speaker.  David’s book, The Law of the Garbage Truck™, is due out next year.  You can find out about the No Garbage Trucks! mission at www.thelawofthegarbagetruck.com.

David holds a master’s degree of applied positive psychology (M.A.P.P.) from the University of Pennsylvania, and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Yale University.  He is the founding associate executive director of the International Positive Psychology Association.

Are You Laughing? Part III

I hope your weekend is going great! 

Here’s the third post in our series on the importance of laughter in our lives.   Here’s part one.  Here’s part two.

Part Three

Heidi Goff, President and Managing Director of The Americas for Hypercom Corporation, and my boss when I was a director at MasterCard in the mid 1990s, has the ability to get the most out of a business meeting.  Heidi does all that you might expect from a successful senior executive—she’s clear on the focus of her meetings, she communicates what’s expected of everyone, and she listens carefully and speaks with purpose. 

Heidi also has the unique ability to inject humor so that people stay relaxed, creative and open-minded.  She knows when a good laugh or light-hearted comment will release tension in the room.

“In my own research with executives,” says Dachter Keltner in his book, Born to Be Good, “laughter early in negotiations—the product of break-the-ice banter about families, travel mishaps, hotel rooms, golf games, and the like—sets the stage for mutually beneficial bargaining.” 

Humor is good for business.

This week: 

Take a moment to think about your business or organization.  How could you inject some more humor into your relationships with your customers, suppliers, partners, and coworkers? 

As always, let me know how you’re doing when you have time.  And remember to share your stories with me.

Best to you,

David

-------------------------------------------------------

Sign up

And remember you can sign up for my newsletter, Momentum Minutes™, right here.

---------------------------------------------------------

David J. Pollay is the creator of The Law of the Garbage Truck™.  He is a syndicated columnist with the North Star Writers Group, creator and host of The Happiness Answer™ television program, and an internationally sought after speaker.  David’s book, The Law of the Garbage Truck™, is due out next year.  You can find out about the No Garbage Trucks! mission at www.thelawofthegarbagetruck.com.

David holds a master’s degree of applied positive psychology (M.A.P.P.) from the University of Pennsylvania, and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Yale University.  He is the founding associate executive director of the International Positive Psychology Association.

Are You Laughing? Part II

Here’s another quick post in our series on the importance of laughter in our lives.   These short posts are in honor of my wife, Dawn, who makes me laugh every day.  Our ten year wedding anniversary was on Friday.  Here’s part one.

part two

My father, known by most as “Big Lou,” gives it away every time.  My mom says, “You can see Lou’s thinking about something funny when his lips start to quiver and his eyes light up.  And when you catch him with that expression, he just starts laughing.  He’s always looking for the joy in life.”  After 45 years of marriage, Mom and Dad laugh more than ever.  In fact, their good humor has helped them face the challenges that come with aging. 

Director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development and author of Aging Well, George Vaillant, found that the key to successful aging is the ability to cope with life’s difficulties.  In particular, he found that employing mature defenses like the use of humor is a potent coping strategy.  Vaillant writes, “Humor allows us to look directly at what is painful.  Humor permits the expression of emotion without individual discomfort and without unpleasant effects upon others.” 

Humor is good for aging.

This week: 

Take a moment to think about the people who make you laugh.  Then, when you speak with them next, let them know how much you appreciate them. 

Oh, and you might even try to make them laugh.

As always, let me know how you’re doing when you have time. 

Best to you,

David

---------------------------------------------------------

Sign up

And remember you can sign up for my newsletter, Momentum Minutes™, right here.

---------------------------------------------------------

David J. Pollay is the creator of The Law of the Garbage Truck™.  He is a syndicated columnist with the North Star Writers Group, creator and host of The Happiness Answer™ television program, and an internationally sought after speaker.  David’s book, The Law of the Garbage Truck™, is due out next year.  You can find out about the No Garbage Trucks! mission at www.thelawofthegarbagetruck.com.

David holds a master’s degree of applied positive psychology (M.A.P.P.) from the University of Pennsylvania, and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Yale University.  He is the founding associate executive director of the International Positive Psychology Association.

 

Are You Laughing? Part I

This week I want to share a few quick stories and research about the importance of laughter in our lives. These short posts are in honor of my wife, Dawn.  Our ten year wedding anniversary is this Friday.  I am grateful for all the laughs we've shared together.

part one

Dick Robinson, a Pulitzer Prize nominated journalist and former medical writer for The Oakland Press, told me this a few years ago:  “My day doesn’t start until my wife, Brenda, makes me laugh.”  Dick credits his wife for helping make his life so enjoyable.  The Robinsons have been married for 39 years. 

In The Relationship Cure, psychologist John Gottman writes, “Turning toward one another’s sense of humor in everyday situations bolsters your relationships while making life together a lot more fun.”  It also helps couples stay together.  Gottman found in his research that a dearth of laughter was often the reason couples divorced later in life.  Humor is good for marriages.

This week:  Think how you can bring more laughter to your relationships.   As always, let me know how you’re doing when you have time. 

Best to you,

David

---------------------------------------------------------

Sign up

And remember you can sign up for my newsletter, Momentum Minutes™, right here.

---------------------------------------------------------

David J. Pollay is the creator of The Law of the Garbage Truck™.  He is a syndicated columnist with the North Star Writers Group, creator and host of The Happiness Answer™ television program, and an internationally sought after speaker.  David’s book, The Law of the Garbage Truck™, is due out next year.  You can find out about the No Garbage Trucks! mission at www.thelawofthegarbagetruck.com.

David holds a master’s degree of applied positive psychology (M.A.P.P.) from the University of Pennsylvania, and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Yale University.  He is the founding associate executive director of the International Positive Psychology Association.