How to find & use humor to heal and energize your life
Program Titles
- Reduce Stress Using Humor, Laughter & Fun
- How To Give Yourself a Humor Makeover
John F. Murphy M.Ed, CCC, SLP, is a Speech-Language Pathologist who uses therapy and humor with adolescents.
Ann Murphy, M.Ed., is the author of 12 books on family and parenting issues, and a professional speaker.
Together the Murphys educate and entertain audiences. For many years they have entertained audiences, teaching where to find humor and fun, how to share it with others, when to use it most effectively and how to use it to cope and heal, improve relationships and the quality of life.
They believe that what the world really needs is more laughter and less paperwork.
When Life Hands You Lemons—Squirt Back!!!
Speech-language pathologists spend most of their time supporting other people. We assess, treat, educate, motivate, inspire, strategize, develop training programs and train, communicate verbally and with signs, counsel, research, empathize, collaborate, and manage. It has been reported by some that we even change lives.
But at what price? Who takes care of us?
After speaking at some two dozen association meetings throughout the United States over six years and talking personally with speech-language pathologists and audiologists, we became aware that these disciplines, like others, would be much less stressful if it weren’t for excessive paperwork, prolonged meetings, contentious hearings and constantly changing regulations. The list goes on.
Could it be that one of the solutions to the pressures of therapy might be to have more fun in our life and work?
After posting an offer for a speech-language pathology and audiology humor make-over in various outlets, we began with less than a dozen female therapists. Others were added over a three-month period by word of mouth. One therapist was from an early childhood program, another from private practice, a few from extended care facilities, and the remaining ones from public schools.
We sent a Humor Makeover program, “a humor course in a booklet,” to each participant. The first assignment was to learn to have more fun. It read simply, “Have more fun.”
A total of 21 humor tips, techniques and strategies are explained in the course. Among them are setting goals, searching for fun, laughing at yourself, playing with toys, creating fun with riddles, deep breathing to reduce stress, changing negative behavior, using stories for fun, and celebrating everything.
One of the most important lessons to be learned from this activity is you need not be funny to reduce your stress and increase your enjoyment–just have more fun. When you try to be funny, you need to have others laugh with you. This is not always appropriate. When you are simply having fun, you are relaxed and the laughter comes.
To accomplish this, list 20 ways in which you enjoy having fun. Here are some hints:
• list fun people (you know their names);
• places (movie theaters, bookstores, malls);
• animals (yours or others, dogs, cats, Vietnamese pigs);
• toys (tennis rackets, golf clubs, fishing gear);
• travel (car, bus, plane, train);
• physical pursuits (swimming, walking, climbing);
• eating (Italian, Chinese, subs);
• fun situations (with spouse, friends, others); and
• special talent (singing, painting, fixing cars).
Once you have listed 20 ways that you have fun, list 10 more ways you can have fun that cost $10 or less, such as movies, lottery tickets, magazines, sitcoms, sports on TV, walking, going to a museum, supporting a cause, playing with children, shooting baskets, getting spiritual, reading, listening or looking.
Some of the therapists completed the program in 21 days. Most took 60 days, and one took 90 days. In their final evaluation they said that in having fun they found humor in bumper stickers, songs, signs, coffee mugs, toys, comics, greeting cards, games, posters and magic tricks. They used these objects in treatment to help those with problems listening, getting attention, developing memory, categorizing, following directions, and being motivated.
One suggestion they had was to continue the program by teleconference. Having never talked to one another, they wanted to interact with other speech-language pathologists who may or may not have taken this course but had an interest in the work.
We plan to meet via phone every other month for the next six months to explore ways of using humor and fun in the following ways:
• teaching pragmatic language to middle school and high school adolescents with individual education plans (IEPs);
• teaching those with autism and Asperger’s syndrome;
• working with students requiring training in executive functioning;
• working with students requiring cognitive training, memory development and socializing;
• teaching literacy and primary importance; and
• helping speech-language pathologists and others maintain balance and avoid burn-out.
Two participants who were planning to leave their present job due to burn-out decided to stay at least another six months. All agreed the course helped them lighten up and be more flexible. They are still using the program to help solve problems.
Book John F. Murphy, M.Ed., CCC, SLP for your Event!