Tap Into Creative Flow Through Humor
Author: Valery Satterwhite

Childhood is often referred to as a carefree and playful
time enjoyed without a thought of responsibility. However,
a more accurate look at the average youth experience
reveals that children experience quite a bit of emotional
and sometimes physical pain. Many children who live such a
stressful childhood reach for humor as a coping mechanism.

A group of researchers at Texas A&M found that humor can
significantly increase hope and that hopefulness helps
people cope with stresses in daily life including illness.
At professor at Canisius College in Buffalo, NY
demonstrated in a medical setting that humor helps both
patients and physicians cope. It is true, laughter is often
the best medicine.

"Laughter gives us distance. It allows us to step back from
an event, deal with it and then move on." - Bob Newhart

Many people who have had painful childhoods became masters
at humor. Watch most any James Lipton interview with an
actor on Bravo's "Inside The Actors Studio" and you will
recognize the common thread of talented actors who have
turned to their craft to cope with a difficult childhood.
It is frequently assumed that comics and comedians used
humor to deal with stressful childhood environments,
particularly with parental conflict or a distant mother.

"Nobody became an actor because he had a good childhood." -
William H. Macy

Rodney Dangerfield, was one of the funniest comics and
actors who was raised by his mother. Growing up with a
painful childhood found escape through humor. As a child,
comedian George Lopez never felt like it was great to be
part of a family. When first performed, at age 18, he made
the audience roar with laughter. He felt like he was
flying. It was the first time he ever felt complete
acceptance and love.

Jim Carrey knew hardship as a child. His mother was often
ill and Jim spent many hours near her bedside spontaneously
performing funny routines to make her laugh, make her feel
better. Chris Rock based his show "Everybody Hates Chris"
on his painful childhood memories growing up as the only
black student in an all-white school in New York City.
After comedian and talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres' parents
divorced she helped her mother cope with depression by
making her laugh. A surprising number of comics have such
faced hardships as children, yet managed to find their
personal salvation through laughter. They continue to cope
with childhood memories, and provide our entertainment, by
making us laugh. Often this laughter helps us cope with our
own painful memories.

"I found I could make her happy, and she wouldn't be crying
anymore," When you're a kid you don't usually have that
kind of control over your parent, but I could change her
emotion, and that was amazing." - Ellen De Generes

"Life can be a bummer -- full of hurt and pain and sadness.
It's part of it, and important to put it in perspective.
Have a sense of humor as much as you can." - Ellen
DeGeneres

We express laughter through the body, through emotions and
with our spirit. Laughter evokes an internal flowing that
is life-affirming. A hearty guffaw can improve blood flow,
according to a study from the University Maryland. When you
enjoy a good laugh, your body relaxes and triggers
endorphins that promote an overall sense of well-being and
can even temporarily relieve pain. Laughing also helps to
break down stress hormones and build up hormones associated
with happiness. So if you're having a day when your
frustrated, stressed out, anxious or just plain stuck,
watch a few funny YouTube videos, go to a Comedy Club or
spend some time with people and things that make you laugh!
Get your blood flowing, your heart beating and step back
into the rhythm and flow that is the essence of the playful
creative spirit.

You can turn painful situations around through laughter. If
you can find humor in anything, even poverty, you can
survive it. - Bill Cosby


About the Author:

Valery is a Superstar Mindset Mentor & Coach who teaches
people to tap into their inner power & wisdom, get out of
their own way & fully invest themselves in their creative
endeavors. Clients also learn how to root out
self-sabotaging behavior that can land them on TMZ! Empower
the Wizard Within,http://www.InnerWizard.com Get Free
"Empower the Wizard Within tips"!