Humor Me

If you have watched or read the news this week, you have probably noticed how it feels like the world is about to end.  ISIS (or is it ISIL?).  Ebola.  Guns in schools.  Olympians with DUIs.  It can be depressing to think of all that is going wrong in the world and our seeming inability to individually effect meaningful change.

Sometimes going to work can feel the same way.  You work with a slacker (or several).  There is no focus in your organization's purpose.  No matter how hard you work, you don't feel appreciated or rewarded.  A co-worker's bad attitude is poisoning the group. Confronting the same challenges day-in and day-out without feeling like you have the ability to make any significant improvements on your own can easily rob you of your normal energy and motivation.

And, what's worse (can things even get worse!?) is that you may be right.  You may not be able to save the world or turn around your organization by yourself.  Yet when daily life starts feeling this heavy and serious, I advise my friends and clients to blow it off with some good humor.  It's the instant remedy to kick yourself out of a funk.  Watch a comedy.  Have dinner with a funny friend.  Play a practical joke on a co-worker.  Or if you are sitting at a desk right now and need a quick pick-me-up, check out this list of analogies that high school students actually submitted.  I dare you not to smile.

21 Actual Analogies Used by High School Students in English Essays 

If you have a moment after reading through that list, do me a favor and send me your best analogy for your workplace.  Going to work is like.... Be creative, be specific, be funny.  Enjoy the process and see if it changes your attitude.