Humor is Empathy; and it Starts with Self-Compassion

Humor is not just being funny or jokes. I've written about this so much. See prior articles. What it is about is self-compassion. It starts there. And once we get that, we can use it as a bridge to build empathy and relationships with other people.

When we're worried about being 'funny,' we're worried about how we look to other people. I get it. I really do.

I hope you catch yourself and realize that empathy and being seen starts at home. With us, With you. With me. And it starts with how we feel about ourselves.

Forget others for a second and yes, there's value in humor to connect, of course. What about yourself?

The thing is we're so busy trying to get stuff done, check things off the list and hit our goals, that we forget to connect with ourselves.

The MOST important connection we have is with ourselves. Before we can worry about connecting with others, why aren't we being kinder, more honest and loving towards ourselves?

Humor starts at home. It starts with us. Humor is a gift we give to ourselves. It's laughter, joy and an acceptance of our own humanity. It's humility. It's self-love and if we can't embrace that for ourselves, how can we bring it to work to show empathy for others?

Empathy begins with ourselves. It starts at home with self-compassion. You are lovable and imperfect as you are. All the things you say and do? Those YOU-isms make you "you."

The next time you get frustrated with yourself, pause. Look at your humanity and laugh. When you extend yourself grace, you are more likely to do that for others.

Laugh at your problems first, then shine that light out. Empathy begins with us being better to ourselves. When we are kinder to ourselves it all flows out to others. Make a list of all your 'you-isms' that make you laugh.

Charity, like laughter, begins at home. Do I make myself laugh? Hell yes. I hope you do the same.

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I am on a mission to help people unlock their natural humor and inner improviser for their own transformation. Humor is bigger than you think!

An ex-tech marketing / communications exec who led teams for 16 years and an improviser and comedian for over 24 years, today I use improvisation and stand-up comedy techniques to transform leaders into impactful human communicators who show up, speak up, and story tell playfully and powerfully so they can change their worlds (via my Brave Bold Story and Comedy bootcamps). I am a keynote speaker, Founder of Keeping it Human? and Author of "Stop Boring Me!" I still perform and teach stand-up comedy and improv. My 13 yro used to laugh at my jokes. Now I just knock on his bedroom door, throw red meat in, and run!

From Silicon Valley / Stanford to Second City and Stages beyond - I (and you) have a story to tell and humor is human AF.