The Comedy Mindset
I love stand-up comedy. There’s something about it that I find really engaging. Whether it’s the ludicrous ideas, looking at things from a new and bizarre perspective or just the general delivery of jokes, I always feel uplifted after watching good comedy. Everyone’s taste is bound to be different and what people actually laugh at varies greatly. However, you can’t beat the feeling you get when your face hurts from laughing and you’ve been doubled-over in hysterics. It feels great. You’re relaxed, happy and laughing releases endorphins - bonus!
What I find particularly interesting is the mindset of a stand-up comic. Often, we are told amusing anecdotes of things that happened to the comedian. These stories can be embarrassing, distressing or insightful. The recurring pattern across most comics is how they frame a situation. Something terrible (or seemingly terrible) will be looked at through a comedy lens. A great comedian can turn something horrific into a wonderful story that has audiences in stitches. One particular example that jumps out at me is Michael McIntyre’s anecdote of having a tooth removed. It’s a long horror story of a dental experience gone wrong. On paper, it’s a horrific series of events and something that would be really unpleasant to experience, but what I love is how he reframes the situation. He’s looking for the comedy in what he’s experiencing. He’s turning something negative around and using the awful experience as fuel for his jokes. The whole situation is looked at from a new angle and as things get worse, there is more fuel for the funny story. It’s an interesting way to view the world.
I’m very aware that when a comedian tells an amusing anecdote there may well be an exaggerated element to the story. However, it’s the fact that they are always looking for the “funny” in dire situations that I feel is so important. It’s flipping something around and looking at it in a new light. I really like this idea and think that it can be incredibly helpful for lots of people.
When things start to go wrong, looking for the comedy, irony and absurdity of it all can be a great way to take the sting out of a bad situation. It’s not the only way to deal with adversity but it’s certainly a fun way. The next time something awful happens to you, try to see if you can find the humour in it… Maybe it’ll be dark humour or maybe it’ll be observational humour. There are so many options! When you’re telling others about what you experienced, why not try and make the story amusing… See if you can get a laugh or two. See if you can use comedy as a way to lighten the experience. Breaking down on the motorway could be comedy gold if told in the right way. It doesn’t have to be a disaster!
I’ve had first-hand experience of this on many occasions and find it amazing how empowering this mindset can be. Here’s one example: I was camping in winter and it was an obscenely cold night. The outside of the tent was covered with ice and there was no way to get warm. You could see steamy/misty breath in the tent and I was shivering uncontrollably. I remember chatting to my friend the next day as we laughed about how awful the night’s sleep was. We could have focused on the negative but we tried to make each other laugh instead with stupid stories about how we attempted to warm up in the night. The awful night’s sleep turned into a funny anecdote. I’m not claiming to have the skill or delivery of a professional comedian, but looking for the humour in it all helped change my relationship with sleeping in an icy tent. And yes, it did make it more endurable.
Looking at a situation with a “comedy mindset” is a quick way to reframe how you view unfortunate events. It’s not always going to be the best way to deal with problems but it’s useful to try and see things in a different light. If you’ve ever explored CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) you’ll know that this is all about learning how to reframe what you are experiencing - very similar to the “comedy mindset”! It’s an interesting idea and something that can help to make light of life. Sometimes that’s important. We’re surrounded by seriousness so looking for the “amusing” and “funny” is a great way to change our attitudes. If you need inspiration, start watching more comedy!
“Always look on the bright side of life.”