The Healing Power of Humor

Ice Breaker

Can you think of a time when a serious or stressful moment was eased by humor?
Examples:

Flight 232 – 296 passengers, July 1989, DC-10 hydraulics failure
TV show MASH* – humor as survival under wartime pressure
Ronald Reagan (after being shot) – “I’d rather be in Philadelphia.”

A well‑timed bit of humor can break tension during a family or business crisis, defuse an ugly scene, or get people working together again. It’s also a powerful professional tool.

The Value of Humor

It’s easy to abandon humor in a culture that believes success requires being tough, working harder, and staying serious. Yet one of our most overlooked natural resources is our sense of humor.

A sense of humor isn’t simply being funny. It’s the ability to see things from a fresh perspective. It’s an acquired skill that can be learned, developed, and mastered.

The goal isn’t to be a comedian, but to communicate that you have a sense of humor.

More Than Telling Jokes

Humor means looking at things from a different angle:

Perceiving what others overlook
Staying flexible in your thinking
Encouraging creative problem-solving (example: worst customer story)
Making people feel good
Breaking down barriers
Uniting people
Opening doors
Putting things into perspective
Alleviating anxiety
Building credibility
Helping to sell yourself or your product
Generating camaraderie and trust

Corporate Leadership

In a 1980 survey of 480 CEOs (Shrift, 1981), most leaders said a sense of humor was essential in their work. Many preferred hiring qualified candidates with humor over equally qualified but more serious ones.

Executives increasingly believe that business is more enjoyable and productive when humor is part of daily life. Humor helps people relax, cooperate, and stay productive. The goal: take the job seriously but yourself less so.

Communication Skills

Humor works as a social lubricant. We tend to like and trust people who make us laugh.

During presentations or meetings, humor and a cheerful tone show goodwill and openness. In teaching or learning settings, humor helps improve understanding, retention, and rapport.

Management Style

Humor offers a way to give feedback, point out mistakes, or share values while allowing others to save face.

Used appropriately, humor delivers results and strengthens relationships. It should never replace honesty, only soften its delivery.

Dealing With Anger

There’s a direct link between laughter and anger: it’s nearly impossible to laugh heartily and stay angry. Many have seen laughter defuse hostility or prevent conflict.

Humor in tense situations can be high-risk, high-reward—when used wisely.
(Example: TV repairman story.)

Lighten Up

The difference between heaven and earth:

On earth we ask, “Where’s the bathroom?”
In heaven we ask, “Why did I take life so seriously?”

When you’re on your deathbed and say, “Tell me stories about our life together,” and everyone laughs—then you’ve lived a joyful life.

I tell my patients to collect these stories so that when the time comes, they can go laughing. Laughter is the pulse of life.

Anecdotes

Keep it honest, real, and natural. Personal stories help build rapport.

Reach into memory for your favorite personal anecdote:

Most embarrassing experience
Funniest thing that ever happened to you or a friend
Biggest mistake
Most bizarre thing you ever saw or heard
Strange dream
Wildest vacation
Funniest business meeting story
Relative story
Strangest gift
Bad dining experience
Something funny now that wasn’t funny then

Quotes

People respect and laugh more easily with those they admire.

Examples:

Will Rogers
Neil Armstrong
Yogi Berra (“Pizza” story)

Ad-Libs and Jokes

Ad‑libs are best when prepared and rehearsed.

When telling jokes:

Keep them brief.
Make sure they’re appropriate.
Focus on timing and delivery—maintain tension just long enough for the punchline to land.

Avoid ethnic or religious jokes.

Self-deprecating humor works well: it shows confidence and humility.

Declining With Anger

Laughter and anger cannot coexist. Humor can often diffuse hostility and prevent destructive reactions. Used carefully, it’s a high‑risk, high‑reward tool.

Lighten Up (Article)

Choosing humor restores a sense of control.

Humor is great medicine—physically and mentally rejuvenating. Studies show that happy people tend to be healthier and live longer.

Remember: on earth we ask “Where’s the bathroom?” but in heaven we ask “Why did I take life so seriously?” Life filled with laughter is a life well lived.

Laughter is the pulse of life.

Reaching your Humor Potential