Humor and Laughter

Prescription for Stress Reduction

ABC TV DOCUMENTARYJanuary 22, 1998

• THE MYSTERY OF HAPPINESS: WHO HAS IT AND HOW TO GET IT!

Constitutional Right

Pursuit of Happiness

Research Shows Us That People Who Rate Themselves As Happier Than Most People

Have Some Common Characteristics

They Are:AltruismFeeling of Control/AnticipationAbility to let go of Negative EmotionsAttitude of OptimismSense of Humor/Ability to Create Positive Emotional States

SIGN OF A HEALTHY SENSE OF HUMOR

• BE ABLE TO LAUGH AT YOURSELF!

We must change our culture of

negativism and cynicism.

You two will be the “happiness

committee”,come up with some ideas to improve morale.

So far we’ve got 1)raises 2)slap the boss day 3)nude Fridays.

I feel my cynicism melting

away already!

The Stress Research Institute• The single most important variable that will

determine how well people will deal with stress in the new millennium will depend on people’s ability to create positive emotional states and how to consciously experience the kinds of thoughts and feelings that add energy to the body.

HUMOR IS KNOWING WHAT OR WHY SOMETHING IS

FUNNY• FAMILY UPBRINGING• THEIR CULTURAL BACKGROUND• YOUR PERSONALITY

THE RISK IN USING HUMOR

• WHAT’S FUNNY TO YOU MAY NOT BE TO SOMEONE ELSE.

• HOW MANY OF YOU ARE GOOD JOKE TELLERS?

LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR MEN?

• STRESS RELATED ILLNESSES

LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR WOMEN?

• MEN• WRONG ANSWER• STRESS RELATED ILLNESSES

TOO MUCH STRESS?

I’ve had a rough day honey, tell me everybody’s name again.

Why do you think you need a Vacation?

Supervisor

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STRESS TRAP 1TIME

•Boy, what a year today was!

STRESS TRAP 2PEOPLE

You must be Timmy’s teacher, I’m Timmy’s dad.

STRESS TRAP 3PLACES

STRESS TRAPSCAN COME FROM

ANYWHERE