I’ve been getting messages lately to lighten up, loosen up, laugh a bit more, not be quite so serious. The Universe deputized a few sources (whether they know it or not) to deliver these messages. First, my partner: “Your Sunday Shares are great but you could use a little more humor.” My iniital response was defensiveness (“What do you mean? My Taylor share was hysterical!”), followed by digging in (“What does he know anyway?”), and finally, by a somewhat reluctant determination to examine my approach.

OK, I admit the last one only came when the universe, likely impatient with my resistance, launched a multi-channel campaign. My business coach shared that while my content was great, it was important to be a bit playful and not too precious with it. Don’t get too breathy! Another trusted source suggested I bring more playfulness in to engage the audience even more. And even I, in reviewing a recent podcast recording, noticed that my desire to share, enlighten, and engage, is done with a smile versus that belly laugh that comes from the unexpected and irreverent.

So, an examination began. Being a practitioner of self-compassion, I was able to keep things friendly. “It’s OK, dear one. Your work is iterative. Exploration and experimentation don’t invalidate what you’ve already done or are doing. In fact, any pages that metaphorically wind up crumpled on the floor have sacrificed themselves so something else could be born.” (Ironically, finding the most dramatic perspective on my quest fueled my desire to find the comedic one.)

Like a good researcher, I formulated the following questions:

• Can mindfully-informed approaches to wellbeing be humorous, playful, and light-hearted?
• What is my comfort level in being humorous, playful, and light-hearted?

Interim findings on Question 1 reveal: YES!

• There is actual research on mindfulness and humor, including a randomized trial on a humor enriched mindfulness-based program (HEMBP). Results were promising!

Humor-Enriched Mindfulness

• Wes “Scoop” Nisker, a journalist, educator, and entertainer, has spent a lifetime addressing existential questions related to mindfulness, cosmology, and in very humorous and playful ways. The Subatomic Shuffle

Interim findings on Question 2 reveal – Growing!

• Evidence suggests that my comfort with and use of humor may be fairly high. It’s the playful, spontaneous, irreverent, improvisational approach that could use further development.
• As an example, I thrive in playing comedic roles on the stage, contemporary or classic, and avoid improvising, playing without a script. But in my new entrepreneurial world, much spontaneity is required to seize opportunities as they arise

So perhaps that’s my performance plan for this next period. Trust in my intention to help people find greater liberation and freedom by being more liberated and free in my delivery. As Katherine Hepburn said, “If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun!”

Here’s to your breaking a few rules and finding more fun this week and beyond!