David M. Ogilvy once said “The Best Ideas Come As Jokes. Make Your Thinking As Funny As Possible.” I agree 100% with this statement. I don’t know how your creative sessions go but, I have been in many brainstorming sessions where in the beginning they all seem to start out with everyone feeling a little uncomfortable, distracted from all of their daily stresses, and maybe a little inhibited. But, usually when a little humor is added to the conversation, everyone seems to become a little more comfortable with each other, our minds become clearer, and all barriers seem to be removed. It is very hard to be creative in a stale, regimented environment. Don’t get me wrong, there is a time to be serious, and a time to joke around, a time to work and a time to play. What’s great about creativity is, work and play become one. Creativity thrives in a playful environment.
In fact, laughter is very healthy for you. Studies have shown that humor and laughter help people live longer, happier lives; be more creative and productive; spontaneous; and have more energy. Humor reduces stress, fear, intimidation, embarrassment, and anger. Laughter has a healing power: blood pressure decreases, heart rate and respiration increase. Laughter makes us approachable and removes barriers between people. Allows us to cope with stress; build confidence; minimizes inhibitions and allows our real personalities to emerge. Laughter improves communication and builds relationships because everyone laughs in the same language. It can even help you remember things. We remember what we feel.
Laughter is always available and the best thing is it is FREE! Even in Proverbs 17:22, the bible says, “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine; but a broken spirit drieth the bones.”
On average, a child laughs 400 times a day, adults laugh about 15 times a day.
Who do you think is more creative? Have you ever seen a stressed out child?
Have you ever seen an adult entertain themselves for hours with a cardboard box or a cardboard tube at Christmas time? If you want to see creativity, go watch a child play. Play is essential to creativity, you can not have creativity without play
and you can not have play without laughter.