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The next best thing to solving a problem is finding some humour in it.

When everything goes wrong and nothing works anymore, the only thing that helps is humour. There is a scientific basis to this, too.

„Visualize yourself not falling off the wall”

Image credits: andrewgenn (iStock-Illustration ID: 485991828)

Humour and good cheer?

  • are human traits that everyone possesses, though not necessarily in exactly the same way
  • make us less sensitive to physical pain – especially when we all laugh together 
  • increase our psychological resilience
  • strengthen us in difficult situations, because positive emotions expand our field of vision (in contrast to fear and anger)
  • help us face the troubles of the world with serenity
  • make us friendlier towards one another 
  • improve our feeling of wellbeing.

Does humour have a place in therapy?

Yes, of course, especially when it feels right for you. Why not? Humour shows itself in multiple ways: some people laugh out loud wholeheartedly while others might only smile tentatively. It is not about telling jokes and laughing through a stressful situation. Humour can do so much more! It can help develop wisdom and compassion through insight into human weaknesses. For a brief moment, humour can open an emotional window through which we suddenly see new possibilities of interpretation. In the best case, it can even calm a situation which anger, for example, cannot. 

If humour succeeds, then it is in combination with cheerfulness and seriousness. “Friendly“ humour may include a reference to failure, possible mistakes and imperfection, thus both respectfully and in a light-hearted manner.

The good news

Humour is not limited to funny people. We are all able to develop a sense of humour. It is best learned when in a good mood, in order to be able to call upon this coping mechanism under stress. It is like physical training: physiologists have observed that when laughing, the body tenses numerous muscles, from the face down to the abdominal region. For this to occur we need oxygen; that is why we breathe faster when we laugh. The lobes of the lungs expand, the diaphragm starts moving rapidly. Watch out! These movements push down towards the bladder. If the bladder is full, a drop can escape… But who cares, sometime little accidents happen. Just keep at it, because practice makes perfect.

If you laugh hard, you might even get sore muscles. Laughter itself is like a rocket, shooting out of the body at top speed. When laughter subsides and blood pressure is back to normal, a comforting sense of relaxation will spread throughout.

Life as our school of humour? Absolutely! Situational comedy often results in the best laughs. Go ahead, infect each other with humour today!

Tomorrow is soon, so let’s start today!

My office is located in Walchwil, Canton Zug.

Phone

+41 76 570 8414

Email

bb@barbarabauer.ch

Hypnotherapy & Coaching Barbara Bauer
Dorfstrasse 4, 6318 Walchwil/Zug

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Barbara Bauer

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Contact

+41 76 570 8414
bb@barbarabauer.ch