Mindfulness and Humor:
Gaining Clarity While Giggling
by Maya Frost
Life is funny.
Throughout the day, there are plenty of humorous moments that we tend to ignore.
We get so caught up in being earnest that we miss opportunities to gain clarity while giggling.
Sure, there are times when it's considered inappropriate to laugh, but if we're honest,
we'll see that if we're suppressing a smile, it's a sign that we're fully present.
Not only that, but these are times when we could most use a little laughter
to bring levity to an overly-serious situation. The best business meetings
--and funerals--I've ever attended included plenty of bust-a-gut moments.
Years ago, during a two-week silent meditation retreat, I got the giggles.
Oh, I know, you're supposed to be *serious* about meditating for five hours straight,
but I couldn't help it.
It all started when I was roused from my peaceful posture by a "KLUNK!"
from across the room. I opened my eyes to see that one of my retreat buddies
had fallen asleep and landed with his head against the wall. Momentarily unnerved,
he quickly straightened up, closed his eyes and put on his best meditator's face.
I, on the other hand, completely lost it.
I managed to stifle the first few giggles, but then they started escaping in little bursts.
I tried the ol' coughing technique, hoping to disguise my snorts as expectoration,
but I wasn't fooling anyone.
Pretty soon, I saw (well, I did have my eyes open) others looking my way.
Nobody else was laughing. In fact, nobody else was even smiling.
But my buddy who had klunked smirked with his eyes closed.
Clearly, he noted the hilarity of the moment.
Our meditation teacher was out of the room, so I couldn't look to her
for guidance. I had to trust my own sense of what presence meant in that moment.
I was chagrined, and then annoyed, and continued to watch my response
to this incident shift over the next few minutes.
Had it been funny? Of course. Were we supposed to be concentrating fully
on the moment? Absolutely.
Okay, so we were focusing on watching our thoughts, and this little interruption
was not part of what was going on in our heads.
But isn't ignoring what's happening around us
the same kind of thing that gets us into trouble back in the Real World?
We go about our lives, obsessing silently, moving mindlessly, getting things done.
We fail to notice the wonder and joy and beauty all around us because we are in
full scowl mode about the things in our heads.
Well, I'm all for taking time to laugh. Give me a giggling guru over a dour taskmaster every time.
The greatest guides--in business, education, and personal success--are those who
encourage us to invite hilarity into our lives whenever it happens to appear.
Open your eyes to the silliness around you, and laugh out loud.
It's good for your heart in every way.
© 2004-2020 Maya Frost
When sharing, please include the following:
Maya Frost is an author, mindfulness trainer, and creative change strategist.
Learn more at MayaFrost.com
Want to read more stories and articles on mindfulness?
Throughout the day, there are plenty of humorous moments that we tend to ignore.
We get so caught up in being earnest that we miss opportunities to gain clarity while giggling.
Sure, there are times when it's considered inappropriate to laugh, but if we're honest,
we'll see that if we're suppressing a smile, it's a sign that we're fully present.
Not only that, but these are times when we could most use a little laughter
to bring levity to an overly-serious situation. The best business meetings
--and funerals--I've ever attended included plenty of bust-a-gut moments.
Years ago, during a two-week silent meditation retreat, I got the giggles.
Oh, I know, you're supposed to be *serious* about meditating for five hours straight,
but I couldn't help it.
It all started when I was roused from my peaceful posture by a "KLUNK!"
from across the room. I opened my eyes to see that one of my retreat buddies
had fallen asleep and landed with his head against the wall. Momentarily unnerved,
he quickly straightened up, closed his eyes and put on his best meditator's face.
I, on the other hand, completely lost it.
I managed to stifle the first few giggles, but then they started escaping in little bursts.
I tried the ol' coughing technique, hoping to disguise my snorts as expectoration,
but I wasn't fooling anyone.
Pretty soon, I saw (well, I did have my eyes open) others looking my way.
Nobody else was laughing. In fact, nobody else was even smiling.
But my buddy who had klunked smirked with his eyes closed.
Clearly, he noted the hilarity of the moment.
Our meditation teacher was out of the room, so I couldn't look to her
for guidance. I had to trust my own sense of what presence meant in that moment.
I was chagrined, and then annoyed, and continued to watch my response
to this incident shift over the next few minutes.
Had it been funny? Of course. Were we supposed to be concentrating fully
on the moment? Absolutely.
Okay, so we were focusing on watching our thoughts, and this little interruption
was not part of what was going on in our heads.
But isn't ignoring what's happening around us
the same kind of thing that gets us into trouble back in the Real World?
We go about our lives, obsessing silently, moving mindlessly, getting things done.
We fail to notice the wonder and joy and beauty all around us because we are in
full scowl mode about the things in our heads.
Well, I'm all for taking time to laugh. Give me a giggling guru over a dour taskmaster every time.
The greatest guides--in business, education, and personal success--are those who
encourage us to invite hilarity into our lives whenever it happens to appear.
Open your eyes to the silliness around you, and laugh out loud.
It's good for your heart in every way.
© 2004-2020 Maya Frost
When sharing, please include the following:
Maya Frost is an author, mindfulness trainer, and creative change strategist.
Learn more at MayaFrost.com
Want to read more stories and articles on mindfulness?