| Stress management is a hot topic; stress-related | | | | because it only increases our stress! It reduces |
| illness and suffering is at an all-time high in | | | | the effectiveness of humor's natural medicine to |
| America and increasing every year. Cliff Kuhn, | | | | zilch.A more pernicious error occurs. We begin to |
| M.D.'s work with the powerful natural medicine of | | | | think that the avoidance of whatever we fear is |
| humor has uncovered the primary culprit behind | | | | the same as having fun. Joy becomes |
| your unhealthy stress symptoms, as well as the | | | | synonymous with the avoidance of fear. |
| solution to simple, healthy stress | | | | The Absence Of One Thing Does Not Indicate |
| management.Astronomer-mathematician Ptolemy | | | | The Presence Of Its OppositeIf this sounds |
| (85-165) devised a theory of planetary motions | | | | ridiculous to you let me put it in more familiar |
| that placed the earth at the center of the | | | | terms that have become acceptable where your |
| universe. The sun, moon, and planets revolved | | | | health is concerned. With rare exception we have |
| around the earth in the Ptolemaic universe. This | | | | agreed in our society that health is synonymous |
| notion was accepted for approximately 1,500 | | | | with absence of symptoms. Do you really believe |
| years. More on this in a moment...Shelly was in | | | | your health is merely the absence of your |
| such need of stress management that she was | | | | symptoms? My Fun Factor prescription teaches |
| unhappy much of the time. Shortly after she | | | | you that, not only is the absence of symptoms |
| became my patient, I was able to help Shelly see | | | | not synonymous with health, but also that you |
| that, just like Ptolemy's theory, she was casting | | | | never have to fall for that lie again.You never |
| herself as the center of the universe, thereby | | | | have to settle for second-rate health! You can |
| causing unmanageable stress levels in her life. We | | | | use your powerful natural medicine of humor to |
| began a regimen from my Fun Factor prescription | | | | stave off seriousness' debilitating |
| that afforded Shelly proper stress management, | | | | effects.Therefore the issue becomes balance. Fun |
| reintroduced joy and happiness, and brought her | | | | balances fear. The ultimate question is not, "Are |
| life back into balance.Shelly's problem was | | | | you without fear?", but "Is your fun in balance |
| common; I see more and more people each day | | | | with your fear?" If you're not 100% certain of a |
| who suffer from unhealthy levels of stress. | | | | "yes" response to the later question, then you |
| Whether it is sleeplessness, weight gain, mood | | | | need to STOP - RIGHT NOW - and take the last |
| changes, hair loss, worry, agitation, or any other | | | | step in my Fun Factor stress management |
| of the myriad symptoms commonly associated | | | | formula to ensure that your life is as healthful as |
| with stress, stress-related illness and suffering is | | | | it could be.Step Three: Tell the TruthThe final step |
| at an all-time high in America and increasing every | | | | in your Fun Factor stress management formula is |
| year. Luckily for you, my work with the powerful | | | | the Fun Commandment, Tell the Truth. This |
| natural medicine of humor has uncovered the | | | | Commandment refers more to self-integrity than |
| primary culprit behind your unhealthy stress | | | | it does "cash register" honesty. Getting in the |
| symptoms, as well as the solution to simple, | | | | habit of telling yourself the truth will cement |
| healthy stress management.My medical practice, | | | | humor's powerfully positive effect over your |
| involving decades of work with chronically and | | | | stress. Your stress management becomes |
| fatally ill patients, has clearly identified the cause | | | | second nature when you are honest with yourself |
| of our painful stress symptoms - seriousness. | | | | each day, because you can then immediately, |
| Seriousness means taking yourself too seriously; | | | | easily, and simply apply steps one and two to |
| seriousness means over-reaching - taking | | | | your life.Telling yourself the truth, for our |
| responsibility for things beyond your power, such | | | | purposes, focuses on knowing when your stress |
| as the outcomes and results of all your hard | | | | levels are rising. As we noted in step two, |
| work. Consequently, you're positioning yourself | | | | everyday activities normally produce a baseline |
| incorrectly as the "center of the universe." | | | | level of stress and this stress is usually alleviated |
| Seriousness causes so much pressure that | | | | by your daily routines (for example, when you |
| effective stress management, which I will teach | | | | experience the stress of hunger, you eat). Step |
| you in this article, becomes impossible.The | | | | three in my Fun Factor stress management |
| antidote for your seriousness, and your | | | | formula teaches you to recognize the signs of |
| foundation for healthy stress management, is the | | | | unhealthy stress and take corrective action |
| natural medicine of humor. Humor's incredible | | | | immediately.Here are some simple stress |
| power is harnessed to maximum impact through | | | | management techniques to apply when your |
| my unique Fun Factor prescription. Based upon | | | | self-honesty reveals rising stress levels:1. Start |
| my Fun Commandments, which were forged in | | | | your day off by singing in the shower at the top |
| unison with some incredible patients of mine, my | | | | of your voice. Make up your own song that |
| Fun Factor prescription is capable of producing | | | | incorporates the idea that you are embarking |
| such profound positive change to your health and | | | | upon a glorious day in which great things are going |
| personal success that you will soon have people | | | | top happen to you. Can't sing? Good! Can't |
| whispering, "Is she always this happy?"In this | | | | rhyme? Who cares? The words are for you |
| article, I will explain how my Fun Factor | | | | alone. This is not a contest. Be as off-key as you |
| prescription can be directly applied to your stress. | | | | need to be...unless you are Placido Domingo.The |
| You will be amazed at how much lighter and | | | | important thing is to be loud (your inner ear has |
| happier you feel, with each passing day, as you | | | | to hear it), upbeat and convincing. The |
| put the following Fun Commandments to work in | | | | subconscious believes what it is told. Start your |
| your life. You are about to discover that the | | | | day by telling it that it will be a great day and you |
| natural medicine of humor produces flawless | | | | will be more than halfway to producing exactly |
| stress management, putting an end to your | | | | that result. Think of your singing not as singing but |
| painful stress symptoms.The Fun Factor Stress | | | | as a stress relief game played before stress has |
| Management FormulaStep One: Laugh with | | | | a chance to rear its ugly head.2. Travel to work |
| YourselfMy first stress management Fun | | | | alone, along the same boring route every day? |
| Commandment is: Laugh with Yourself. This | | | | Make up a game to play as you look out the |
| Commandment is not about humiliation or | | | | window of your car, bus or train. For example, |
| self-denigration, it is the ultimate in self-respect | | | | how many dogs will you see on the way to |
| because it teaches you to appreciate your | | | | work?Try to guess before you set out and see |
| "perfect imperfection" and to find gentle | | | | how close you are when you arrive. Reward |
| amusement in your foibles. And, when it comes | | | | yourself every time you guess correctly to within |
| to stress, there is plenty of amusement to be | | | | a certain number. Drivers: limit yourself to dogs |
| found which will greatly aid your stress | | | | (or green elephants) you see through the |
| management.Here's the first amusing thing about | | | | windshield only. This game does not work well in |
| your stress: you can't live without it, yet too | | | | subways; there are no green elephants in |
| much is bad for your health. Like many of the | | | | subways.3. Have a routine job? One that you find |
| essential things in life: we need a certain amount | | | | boring? Does it produce stress symptoms, such |
| of stress to survive, yet too much can kill us. For | | | | as drumming your fingers or tapping your toes? |
| example, we die if we are without water for | | | | Perhaps you need to introduce fun into your |
| more than a few days; but submerge us in water | | | | workday.For example, if your job is to make |
| and we die a lot sooner.It is said that we can die | | | | identical widgets each day, how could you do |
| from boredom. I don't think there is any scientific | | | | something different to give variety to what |
| evidence for that theory, but one thing is certain - | | | | otherwise could become a monotonous task? |
| stress relieves boredom. Ending boredom, indeed, | | | | Could you, for example, place each new widget |
| could be considered a form of stress relief. An | | | | relative to the others so that together they |
| amusing paradox, no doubt!Without stress, also, | | | | make a pattern, or spell the name of your |
| we might not eat. Hunger is a form of stress our | | | | sweetheart? How many do you make an hour? |
| body needs occasionally to remind us we need | | | | Could you make one more than that the next |
| food. Stress causes the adrenal glands to work. | | | | hour, safely and with the same excellent quality? |
| Athletes would not perform at their best without | | | | Make a stress-relieving game out of your work |
| stress-induced adrenaline. Every activity causes a | | | | and it will feel less like work and more like fun.4. |
| certain amount of stress. So does inactivity. In | | | | Smile. You feel stressed? Smile. It is a simple |
| fact, to be completely stress-free we would have | | | | activity, so simple that even infants can do it. Just |
| to be dead - not a highly recommended stress | | | | for kicks, count how many times you smile in an |
| management technique!The idea that stress is a | | | | hour. None, you say? Then this stress relief game |
| killer is exaggerated, which is also humorous. Too | | | | is even easier for you, and more important than |
| much stress can be a killer, and it is against too | | | | it is for those who smile all the time. (No wonder |
| much stress in our lives that we need to guard. | | | | they don't feel the same degree of stress that |
| Fortunately we are equipped with the finest | | | | you do!)Your smile doesn't need to be a broad |
| possible stress management mechanism: the | | | | grin that suggests to those around you that they |
| natural medicine of humor and the ability to laugh | | | | need to call the men in white coats. But it should |
| with ourselves. Far better and safer than Valium, | | | | be more than a mental smirk; your facial muscles |
| it is our built-in stress management system.As | | | | should be aware that they are smiling.It is possible |
| you learn to laugh with yourself you will become | | | | simply to paste a smile on your face without any |
| like an athlete - who can have fun running the mile | | | | reason other than you want to smile. After a |
| or the marathon and still turn in peak | | | | while, your subconscious will take over, lighten |
| performance. In fact, since too much seriousness | | | | your mood, and the smiles will come easily and |
| can tighten muscles through negative tension, | | | | naturally.It's best, if possible, to think of something |
| laughing with yourself may even enhance | | | | that can give you a genuine smile, a reason you |
| performance. This Fun Commandment works | | | | can talk about if called upon to do so. Each of us, |
| wonderfully on many levels.Step Two: Choose To | | | | no matter how depressed, has something in life |
| Motivate Yourself With Fun, Not FearStep two in | | | | to celebrate.5. Recognize that stress is a choice. |
| my Fun Factor stress management formula is | | | | We can accept it and put up with it, and the |
| one of my newest Fun Commandments. | | | | damage it can cause our bodies. We can avoid it, |
| Motivating yourself with fun rather than fear is a | | | | but that could be a difficult choice; especially if it |
| crucial step that allows your commitment to laugh | | | | means quitting the only job we know in a tough |
| with yourself to fully impact your healthy stress | | | | job market. That choice might easily create |
| management.This brings us to the only true choice | | | | worse stresses. Or we can deal with it and |
| you have in life. Will you be inspired by fear or by | | | | defeat it.That is not as difficult as it might sound if |
| fun? One choice is all we have for our health, | | | | you make up your mind to use my Fun Factor |
| wellness, and fitness - fear or fun. It all boils down | | | | prescription in everything you do. That doesn't |
| to that. It is your responsibility to choose one or | | | | necessarily mean, laughing, joking and playing the |
| the other.The question is, which is the responsible | | | | village idiot - though all those activities can relieve |
| choice? Which of the two is a powerful medicine, | | | | stress too. You can have fun without ever |
| which will give you health and motivate you | | | | cracking a single joke.A game of tickle with the |
| greater success, sustaining you over time? The | | | | children or grandchildren can be fun and bring |
| natural medicine of humor gives us the | | | | energetic screams of delight from them and you. |
| answer.There is no doubt that both fear and fun | | | | Touch football or, for the less energetic, lawn |
| are potent stimulants to behavior over the short | | | | darts or horseshoes can be fun. For others, it's a |
| run. So the question becomes one of sustainability. | | | | walk, socializing with friends, admiring the beauty |
| Will fear or fun best help us sustain our excellence | | | | around us or following a hobby - especially if it is |
| over time? Which of the two is a powerful | | | | an engrossing one.Attitude Is EverythingThe key |
| alternative medicine that you can learn to use for | | | | is to recognize stress symptoms when they |
| your greatest health, wellness, and fitness? | | | | occur, recognize what's causing them, and use my |
| (That's a trick question, by the way)Let's | | | | Fun Factor formula for healthy stress |
| Encounter A Man-Eating Bear!The fear of being | | | | management. Since fun is the best natural stress |
| eaten alive motivates us to run as fast and as far | | | | reliever known, it makes good sense to |
| as we can when chased by a bear. There is little | | | | incorporate my Fun Factor stress management |
| to no fun in that experience. It is purely fearful, | | | | formula into your daily life.But don't get obsessive |
| but the energy it provides maximizes the | | | | about it. Don't be stressed by removing stress. Be |
| possibilities of sustaining life for that moment. For | | | | content with removing some of your stress, and |
| the moment, in such a life-threatening situation, | | | | with taking the edge off it so that you function |
| fear seems to be an efficient and productive | | | | as a healthier, happier and more productive humor |
| choice. Though full of stress, it relieves us of the | | | | being. After all, perfectionism produces |
| immediate threat!But let's take it a step further. | | | | stress.Shelly, by the way, has learned to take |
| Having survived my wilderness encounter with the | | | | herself much more lightly now and she does not |
| bear, I return to my home in an urban | | | | suffer nearly as many stress symptoms. The |
| environment. The next morning, as I start out for | | | | paradox she loves is that taking herself less |
| work, I run desperately for the car, quickly | | | | seriously actually permits her to take her |
| jumping inside and locking the doors.When I arrive | | | | responsibilities more seriously than ever before! |
| at my workplace, I race into the building. Before I | | | | The natural medicine of humorr, supercharged by |
| get down to work I suspend my bagged lunch | | | | my Fun Factor prescription, has allowed Shelly to |
| high above my desk, roping it to the light | | | | easily and simply manage her stress and enjoy a |
| standards. I insist upon all doors being locked and | | | | life others have started to envy.Just as Polish |
| secured. When asked why, I answer, "I'm merely | | | | astronomer Nicholas Copernicus disproved |
| doing what got me through my wilderness | | | | Ptolemy's earth-centered universe in the 16th |
| experience over the weekend. I don't want to be | | | | century, so the natural medicine of humor |
| eaten by a bear."You'd think I was over-reacting | | | | disproves that you must suffer from being the |
| just a wee bit, and you'd be right. You could say | | | | center of your universe. Remove yourself from |
| that my stress relieves my anxiety, but my | | | | the pressure and stress of a life where |
| anxiety is based on a lie conjured and sustained | | | | everything revolves around you...start using my |
| by my fear! Not exactly the greatest of stress | | | | Fun Factor stress management formula, and the |
| management techniques.The Three Biggest | | | | rest of my Fun Commandments, today!Clifford |
| Dangers Of Our "Run-From-a-Bear" Stress | | | | Kuhn, M.D., America's Laugh Doctor, teaches |
| Management Techniques1. We live our lives as | | | | people and organizations to be more healthy and |
| though every day was an emergency; as though | | | | successful through the use of fun and humor. A |
| a bear is chasing us all the time. This is | | | | psychiatrist, and the former associate chairperson |
| unfortunate for three reasons:2. We now know | | | | of the University of Louisville's renowned |
| that such a constant state of "wariness" or | | | | Department of Psychiatry, Dr. Kuhn now |
| agitation breaks down our coping mechanisms | | | | dispenses his prescription for turbo-charging your |
| over time. It is impossible to sustain the | | | | health, success, and vitality from On his website |
| fear-based behavior without breaking down or | | | | you will find tons of fun, free ways for you to |
| burning out.3. Of all the stress management | | | | maximize your sense of humor, and enjoy a life |
| techniques, this is the absolute worst to choose | | | | others will envy. |