Funny you should Ask Questions
1. What is Humor? It is:
a playful attitude
being amused
a state of mind
seeing incongruities and absurdities
a lot more than telling jokes
the ability to laugh with people not at them
a form of metal flexibility
2. What is a sense of humor?
what makes you laugh, sometimes out loud
seeing the lighter side of life
uniquely yours and an important part of who you are
a sense of self, a sense for others and your ability to connect with them
a sense of proper perspective
being positive, spontaneous and fun loving in your own way
observing the absurd and choosing to be amused
seeing the comedy in the commonplace
what tickles your funny bone and what you think is funny
3. Can you develop your sense of humor or do you have to be born funny?
Yes and yes. We are all born with a funny bone. This is why babies laugh and make others laugh. While skills can be learned, desire can’t. We are all born with natural talents or abilities. But these raw materials must be developed for you to reach your full potential. Practicing humor skills helps you improve the techniques you need to increase your sense of humor.
4. Why do you want to increase your sense of humor?
Would you like to be more outgoing and social? Or do you have a specific goal in mind, such as being the MC at your ex-spouse’s wedding, staff office party or summer school reunion? Or you may want to live out a lifelong dream and do a few minutes at an open mic night or talent show.
Having a developed sense of humor naturally makes you funnier in the eyes and ears of others. Most people are funnier than they think. Look in a mirror and look around you to see the funny that is already in your life. Then look at the types, styles and tools you can use to express their humor with others and enjoy it more yourself. You don’t have to be a stand up comedian to let your humor make you stand out.
Having an active sense of humour and learning to be funnier won’t solve all your problems, but it can help you manage some of them until you figure out how to handle them. It will help you be more comfortable in social settings. It can help you to be the life of the party instead of forming the ice at the edges. You will be more approachable and people will relate to you easily. You will communicate more effectively and also be more confident in your relationships.
Public speaking is inevitable. At some time in your life everyone is asked to make a speech, give a presentation or say a few words at work or a social function. Using a little of your humor can go along way in making your talk very successful and memorable. It can also help you overcome the fear of public speaking.
5. How can I improve my sense of humor?
Improving your sense of humor begins with choosing a positive, childlike attitude of playfulness. Then specific skills and styles can be learned to complement who you are and enrich your enjoyment and expression of humour. Each person’s sense of humor is as unique as a snowflake. No two are alike. Finding a style of humor that suits you will naturally help you share humor with others and more fully enjoy humor yourself. Of course purchasing an e-book of mine is the best way to start!
6. What is the difference between laughter, humor and comedy?
Humor is a mental exercise that enables people to decide what's funny and what is not. Laughter is your body's response to humor. Comedy is the art form of humor. In short, humor is all in your head, laughter is your body’s reaction to it and comedy is for funny people, not just for professional stand ups or actors.
7. What is the difference between having a good sense of humour and being funny?
There is a big difference between being funny and having a good sense of humor. The key is how you define funny. Being funny is what other people think of your humor. It is subjective. This is why there are different jokes for different folks. Being funny is how you express your sense of humor. Having a good sense of humor is how you enjoy humor. They are related and it is a good idea to work on both they go hand in hand.
8. Can I learn to be funnier?
Yes. If you are like most people, you are probably funnier than you think. You likely need to be more intentional about finding the funny in your life. First, look in a mirror and then look around to see the funny that is already in your life. Concentrate on the types, styles and tools you need to express your humor with others and enjoy it more yourself. The good news is that you can learn these techniques and tools needed to be funnier.
9. What is humor coaching?
It is very specific and focused on how to increase your enjoyment and improve your expression of humor. Various types and styles are examined so you can tell which ones fit your personality and style best.
10. What is a humorist?
A humorist is a person with an active sense of humor who is a professional speaker and uses a variety of humor forms to get their motivating message across. They combine their comedy with content and use wit to communicate wisdom.
11. What is healthy humour?
It sees humorous aspects in every day events and promotes a general playful attitude of lightheartedness. It helps people bond and does not intentionally offend or exclude. It pokes fun without putting yourself or others down. Most importantly, it enables you to laugh with people, not at them.
12. I can't tell a joke. Do I need to in order to have an active sense of humor?
No. Fewer than 15% of the things we laugh at are the punchlines of jokes. Joke telling is just one way to express your humour. There are others, and the key is to find the one that suits you. Your humor style is a combination of your personality (who you are), where you have been (your upbringing and history) and where you are headed.
13. Is there more than one type of humor to enjoy?
Yes, your sense of humor – what you find funny says something about who you are. Mostly, it says that you are an individual. You don’t have to be like everyone else.
14. What makes people laugh?
There are several theories about this. The most popular of all is the incongruity theory. My theory is that this is the best theory to follow when sharing your sense of humor in public or enjoying it yourself. Simply, we laugh at things that surprise us, because they appear out of place or incongruous. This is what happens when what we expect doesn’t add up with what we experience.
We laugh also as an expression of our superiority to other people or to a situation. When others look silly, we feel good. Superiority humor is put down humor. Someone or something is put down in order to build us up. Personally, I believe that humor serves a higher purpose than this. It's meant to bond people together, not put them down.
A third theory is the Relief theory which was theorized by the theorist, Sigmund Freud. He believed that humor was a way to release pent up sexual and aggressive thoughts in a socially acceptable way. For Freud, no slip here, humor was a way to deal with taboo issues. Humor is a way to deal with dicey subjects, but it is dicey none the less.
15. Are men and women different when it comes to their senses of humor?
Yes, I have noticed for some time that women are different from men and this includes their sense of humor. Humor tends to be more about power dynamics and issues related to one up-manship for men. Women, tend to enjoy humor that involves personal bonding and establishing relationships.
16. Is there is a time when it is best not to be funny?
Yes, when people are experiencing shock after some traumatic event such as a death or job loss. They do not have the perspective needed to appreciate humor.
If you are unsure about using your humor and think twice about it – don’t try to be funny. If you’re in an awkward situation you think a little levity will help the situation, keep it clean and make it self-directed. If in doubt about your humor, leave it out.
If you have your own question about your sense of humor and would like to ask Jim or to go deeper and to learn how you can improve your sense of humor or be funnier order an e book or sign up for a personal humor coaching session email him today.
