Why Humor is Much More Important than Laughter

By Cliff Kuhn, M.D.
The Laugh Doctor
"It all starts with a SMILE"

"What about when something happens that makes you extremely sad
or angry? How can humor help you then?", I was asked after the
last Fun Times installment.

Most of us enjoy a laugh. But most of my clients want to know
how to make their lives better - which means learning how to
make it through the toughest of times. Using humor to do just
that is what inspired me to write my books in the first place
and, now, we know a lot about humor's role in helping us
survive. And even thrive.

First of all, allow me to remind you that the humor referenced
here is the gentle variety. We're not talking about guffaws;
we're speaking of the gentle knowledge that you don't have to
take yourself so seriously and, even when the going gets really,
really tough, this too shall pass. We're talking about humor as
your state of being more than a state of gut-busting,
milk-squirting laughter.

Secondly, it takes practice to use humor as a state of being. But
it's not hard. I strongly encourage you to revisit It All
Starts with a SMILE - you'll be amazed at the different things
which stand out to you on the second or third read! Keep
applying yourself and don't expect perfection; just keep putting
one foot in front of the other, follow the Smile Strategies, and
trust that you're growing every day.

What can come from your practice? What might you expect as a
result of your humorous state of being? I'll let a coaching
client describe her recent journey. She is a single mom who has
recently had to watch her children be emotionally toyed with by
an absentee father. Here are her words:

"Here is what I have learned by focusing on my humor nature:
every event in my life is neither good nor bad. I know that
might sound weird because watching my ex do harmful things to
our children is definitely unwanted and hurts me. But humor has
taught me that I am in complete control of whether I focus on it
as 'bad' and allow it to destroy my piece of mind.

You see, I have learned that my perspective on an event is
merely one perspective. My perspective is not universally and
absolutely true. For example, if I find a $100 bill on the
ground, that is potentially wonderful for me! Yet if I am the
one who lost that $100 bill, that is probably horrible for me. See? The
same exact event is easily seen in two opposite ways
because of the two differing perspectives of it.

Now your readers might be saying, 'That's all well and good when
you're talking about a $100 bill. Money comes and goes. But
what about watching your children get hurt? How can you not
call that bad?' And I say that watching my children get hurt
is definitely unwanted - it feels terrible. But my humor nature
allows me to keep my sanity through it all, to feel the pain but
not let it overwhelm me or become my state of being.

Before I started following your Smile Strategies I probably
would've been drinking too much right now. Or eating too much. Which
would have made me feel even worse about myself and the
situation! I know that I would not have been the calm, healthy,
level listener and empathic presence I am now for my children. Without
humor I would be unintentionally making things even more
difficult for them!

Having humor as my state of being allows me to stay present and
keep my life in order, despite my pain. It allows me to be
emotionally healthy so I can be the best advocate and mother for
my children. By keeping my perspective healthy, humor allows me
to minimize the damage to my children - to help them deal with
their pain in a healthy manner because I'm doing the same."

I couldn't have said it better! I hope you now feel as
motivated as I to apply yourself to my Smile Strategies today.

Your Attention Please!

Become a happiness machine today! Announcing Dr. Kuhn’s
newest book, “It All Starts with a SMILE!” This is his
greatest work yet! Packed with 52 Smile Strategies
(one for every week of the year) guaranteed to send
your health and success over the top. Go to http://www.natural-
humor-medicine.com/new-book.html to get a peek at the beautiful
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Read Our Featured Article

You possess the most powerful free natural medicine on earth! You
carry this medicine around in your own chemistry and its benefits
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explains why in this article.

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Some Humor to Help You Smile

"This is still the greatest country in the world, if we just
steel our wills and lose our minds."

President Bill Clinton

"It's permanent, for now."

Roberto Kelly, Cincinnati Reds' player, on changing his name
from "Roberto" to "Bobby"

Please - do your friends a favor! Send them
this newsletter or tell them to sign up for it
themselves by going to "http://www.natural-
humor-medicine.com/Fun_times.html" Let's
spread the happiness virus together!

Cliff Kuhn, M.D.
The Laugh Doctor
7406 Wesboro Road
Louisville, KY 40242
"It all starts with a SMILE"