{"id":2417,"date":"2021-04-11T22:25:02","date_gmt":"2021-04-11T22:25:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stressmanagementclinic.com\/?p=2417"},"modified":"2021-04-16T22:25:25","modified_gmt":"2021-04-16T22:25:25","slug":"john-ernst-ph-d-lpc-talks-about-a-sense-of-humor-is-no-joke","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stressmanagementclinic.com\/john-ernst-ph-d-lpc-talks-about-a-sense-of-humor-is-no-joke\/","title":{"rendered":"John Ernst, Ph.D., LPC Talks About\u2026 A SENSE OF HUMOR IS NO JOKE"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

John Ernst, PhD, LPC<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Talks About\u2026<\/h1>\n

A SENSE OF HUMOR IS NO JOKE<\/strong><\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

The pandemic. World conflict. Mass shootings. Internet scams. Politics. Natural disasters. Watching the news on TV hasn\u2019t been a very pleasant experience lately. Not to mention the overdue bills, the \u2018D\u2019 that little Jimmy just got in math, and the argument that you had with your significant other last night. Is it possible that all of the above events have had a negative effect on your mood in a way that\u2019s so subtle you didn\u2019t even recognize it?<\/span><\/p>\n

Although you\u2019re not depressed by any means, does it seem like you\u2019re spending a lot of time dodging life\u2019s bullets and simply enduring the adversity? Can\u2019t remember the last time you had a good laugh? Sounds like it\u2019s time to go on a \u2018search and rescue\u2019 mission for your sense of humor.<\/span><\/p>\n

How are you looking at life?<\/b><\/p>\n

Consider the way you\u2019ve been looking at life lately. Busy day-to-day routines can cause people to primarily focus on necessary tasks, leaving little time for things that don\u2019t have specific purposes. This sometimes allows very little room for humor and laughter. But each day we all have the capacity and opportunity to add some degree of humor to our lives. Why do people watch comedy shows on TV? The simple answer is that they make them feel good. Experiencing humor is necessary for good mental health, and it can certainly add to the enjoyment of living.<\/span><\/p>\n

How to revive your sense of humor:<\/b><\/p>\n

So, why not revive your dormant sense of humor? Begin by avoiding the negative thought patterns that you may have slipped into and practice looking for the positive (it\u2019s the old glass half-empty versus half-full analogy). Then, take yourself and your life a little less seriously. However, that doesn\u2019t mean not caring. Actually, you\u2019ll be caring more about the quality of your life. Real enjoyment of life stems from a positive attitude, and that, in turn, is the \u2018pilot light\u2019 that can ignite humor and laughter when the appropriate situations arise. Once activated, your positive attitude will act like radar that alerts you to opportunities to think or say something humorous.<\/span><\/p>\n

A few tips about exercising your sense of humor:<\/b><\/p>\n