Every Action has an Equal and Opposite Reaction…especially laughter, and or a smile.
Every Action has an Equal and Opposite Reaction…especially laughter, and or a smile. Laughter Physics is basedSir Isaac Newton’s third law of Physics – propulsion, and one that is very important to space flight and in – emotional levity. Here’s how it works. If you push on anything, it pushes back on you.
At this juncture I want to make clear that the definition of “opposite” here is not “contrary to” but as an adjective – having a position on the other or further side of something; facing something, especially something of the same type.
Humor professionals ask us to examine what makes us laugh and consider what kind of humor cheats would bring us out of the doldrums. It should have been easy for me – after all, it is my job to “draw” funny – how hard could it be to amuse myself, especially when it’s my job to amuse others? When looking at “funny” You-Tube videos, it surprises me that while something mildly amuses me, the longer I watch, the funnier it takes to make me laugh out loud, and there is rarely a long sustaining sense of mirth or satisfaction. In fact I often felt frustrated, like an ice-cream sunday had been put in front of me, but I was not allowed to taste or touch it. Is some vital element missing?.
Would anyone play peek-a-boo with a baby if it were not for the opposite reaction of smiles and, if one is lucky, a burst of giggles? If one were to watch it on you-tube – it might make you smile – but if YOU caused the baby to laugh – wouldn’t it be a different experience, and …so much better?
If you tossed a ball for your dog and it didn’t bring it back – would you continue to throw it? Playing catch with oneself may have its’ merits, but having the ball tossed back into your expecting mitt is infinitely more satisfying.
Move over Social Media, and give me someone with skin on…a voice that responds to me and the possibility that I could be affirmed in my personhood…I want to feel and experience the opposite and equal reaction. I do it drawing caricatures, and after I have successfully made someone else react in laughter, or smile with me, I am affirmed. I will have to study more – is this people pleasing, is it addicting, could it be dangerous to make the attempt? Perhaps. But the reward is so cool and just thinking on my own experiences in making others laugh, is making me grin. Who knew.
I was fortunate to find an article in the Harvard Business Review by Shawn Anchor and Michelle Gielan, “Make yourself Immune to Secondhand Stress” Read and consider that the bigger the emotional push, the bigger the emotional push back. Then experiment yourself…give someone a big smile of welcome and see what pushes back at you.
