Laughter positively affects all aspects of being. Studies show that it is a legitimate and powerful form of preventive medicine, and a complementary option to other established therapeutic strategies for physiological, mental, and emotional health, and more. Physiological benefits: laughter is a therapeutic ally in healing and a valuable form of preventive and complementary medicine. It provides important natural defences against illness.
Mental benefits: laughter diffuses bad stress, enhances problem-solving skills, and creates a new perspective.
Emotional benefits: laughter elevates moods, counteracts depression symptoms. Social benefits: laughter fosters better communication, and improves cooperation and empathy between people. It is a significant lubricant of human communication and relationships.
Spiritual well-being: choosing to laugh and be positive teaches us to choose to live and be at peace with others, with our self and with our environment in our current situation. It helps us build resilience to stress and find meaning in life.
The essence is summarized in the following question: “What can I do now to improve my life/work/situation/company with a positive attitude?”
Lies, more lies and downright lying:-
The phone rings you are up against a deadline, you tell the receptionist to tell the caller you are out the office, you lied, ok no problem it was a small "white" lie, we all tell them. I ask you but where does it stop, have you ever been caught out, I am sure you have some time, that has damaged the trust you had with that person. Actually, you made two lies, one you perpetrated yourself and one you asked the receptionist to make. It is effortless to start on the road of half-truths and lies, you have already convinced yourself that it was okay to lie, you have rationalized the first lie, the next is easier. Once you rationalize that first lie, It makes it more likely that you will say, “I’m sure I sent that email,” when you know you did not send that email. If you say it often enough, you will come to remember and believe you sent that email. Is it any wonder that workplaces can become filled with gossipy, cynical, judgmental people exaggerating their own contributions and minimizing those of others? But it is only a small white lie. Don't lie and don't tolerate it in your organization or from others.
Culture, Passion and Coffee:-
When I was living in the US, I was "addicted" too good coffee and comfortable seat, a coffee house. Fundraising in the valley was hard work, meeting after meeting and sorting pitches and decks to adjust, but I always looked forward to a black coffee and comfortable seat in the coffee house, just absorbing the atmosphere. I had a few discussions about the relaxed atmosphere and how things just seemed to get done, it makes me think as leaders, what makes you go to work, try the "5 whys" and I hope the money is below the third why and ask yourself do you have a passion for what you do ? and what flavour of culture do you set for the company. The big key to a profitable and growing business is the culture and the passion that the employees have, not the plastic smile and platitudes, as a leader do you provide a culture that allows the employees to thrive, grow and perform and is it a comfortable culture for all, not too comfortable, do the staff want to come to work not just for the money, I suggest that you read Yvon Chouinard's book "Let My People Go Surfing" and drink some coffee, we all like the salary but there is more to it than that
