Tragedy & Comedy

“Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot.”~ Charlie ChaplinThis Habits 2 Goals episode is FREE for ALL subscribers.Life’s Balancing Act: Tragedy & ComedyWhat feels like a world-ending personal disaster today may just become a hilarious anecdote tomorrow.Just a few years ago, everyone was panicking about the COVID-19 pandemic. It was the end of the world. It was a scary time, filled with uncertainty and fear. Today, the epoch provides comedians worldwide (just check Netflix and social media) with endless material for jokes. To be clear, nobody is laughing about the millions of fatalities. Having said that, they are laughing at the ridiculous things people did, particularly in the early days: hoarding toilet paper, wearing masks made of scarves, and Zoom meetings with our pets dressed up as co-workers.Consider another quote, or rather a formula, this time from Woody Allen: Tragedy + Time = Comedy.For example, imagine the grief and shock surrounding the assassination of President Lincoln in 1865. No one was making jokes about John Wilkes Booth at the time. Today, countless jokes and even historical memes circulate about the incident.It’s hardly funny, yet, people find a way to laugh about it.Does this mean Chaplin’s or Allen’s quote applies to every tragedy? Not exactly.While time may soften the blow of some tragedies, others leave permanent scars. The death of a loved one, the loss of a dream, or the experience of war can leave wounds that never fully heal. So, where does that leave us? Humor is a powerful tool that helps us cope in difficult times, offers perspective, and can even build resilience. It’s also a powerful reminder that even in the darkest of challenges, our perspective will likely shift with some additional time.Think about that teenage relationship you had and lost. It was the end of the world. Up close, it was a tragedy. Now, it’s a comedy,The same might be said for any/all of the latest political crises. The beauty in the observation is this: Take life itself and each crisis at hand a bit less seriously, knowing it may just turn out like 98% of the prior crises, which somehow morphed into comedies.* Embrace the absurd: Life is full of ridiculous situations and unexpected turns. Learn to laugh at the absurdity of it all, even if it feels uncomfortable at first.* Connect with others: Sharing our stories and experiences with others can help us feel less alone and more connected. Laughter is often contagious, so surround yourself with people who make you smile.* Seek out humor: Watch funny movies, read humorous books, or listen to stand-up comedy. Exposing yourself to humor can help boost your mood and put things in perspective.* Be patient: Healing takes time. Don't pressure yourself to feel happy or funny all the time. Allow yourself to feel your emotions and know that laughter will eventually return.Remember, life’s a perpetual and emotional ying and yang.During your next crisis, take a deep breath, recall Chaplin’s and Allen’s words'; recognize the possibility that just maybe you’ll be laughing about it in the future. Enjoy the show!~mg***Get the inspiring, free and world’s first HABITS to GOALS tracking template here: → https://thehabitfactor.com/templates“The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” / The Grunburg Behavior Model is a holistic, fluid, and dynamic behavior-change model. It’s the first behavior-change model to demonstrate how our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and even our environment vibrate (echo and reverberate) to influence each other. Hence, the “Echo-System.” Background here.If you’d like to understand human behavior at an even deeper level, learn more about the “Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” which is featured in the book, “EVERYTHING!” I teach and coach organizations and individuals worldwide how to best utilize and leverage “The Three Circles of Behavior Echo-System” (below) and the P.A.R.R. [Plan, Act, Record & Reassess] scientifically-backed methodology for individual and organizational behavior design. Check out the latest cohort offering; the waitlist is now open: The 28-Day Breakthrough!*Recently Awarded: “Finalist: Self-help, Motivation”International Book Awards: EVERYTHING is a F*cking STORY.Visit https://thehabitfactor.com/templatesTo learn more about P.A.R.R., just Google “P.A.R.R. and The Habit Factor.”Get The Habit Factor® FREE with your audible trial! https://audibletrial.com/habits2goalsFeedspot’s “Top 10 Habit Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021”New listeners, grab your free habits 2 goals tracking template here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templatesFREE copy of As a Man Thinketh (PDF) right here: As a Man ThinkethSubscribe iTunes here! Subscribe: Android This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit habits2goals.substack.com/subscribe