Problems are like red lights

If you’re laughing at red lights, consider laughing when trouble strikes. Red lights can be just like problems.  When an obstacle presents itself, many of us react with anxiety, anger, frustration, and more. These are many of the same feelings we feel when the red light slows us from reaching out destination. 

It’s easy to beat yourself up when you make a mistake, but it feels so much better to laugh. And laughing can help you remember next time. The other day I was going to work and I forgot that same breakfast, but I didn’t realize it until I got to work. Fortunately my partner put the breakfast in the refrigerator and I could forget it again tomorrow. But I laughed when I realized I forgot it. 

The next day, on my way to a day class for work  (which completely throws off my normal schedule anyway), I left early because I learned the lesson of my previous class that leaving earlier would cut the overall trip by 20-30 min and I could eat breakfast or do some walking or working before class. Four blocks from home though, I laughed as I realized I forgot to bring the breakfast I packed. So close to home, it’s easy to turn around and get the breakfast. Laughing the day before I think helped with remembering the mistake sooner. 

Life and work present us many problems every day. How we react to it can impact how or if we learn from our mistakes. The mistakes I presented here are somewhat simple, but the lessons apply to more complex and critical mistakes. I hesitate to use term “Lean in” but that’s what I see myself doing when presented with some mistake or problem: I lean in with laughter. 

If you find yourself in an improv class. you’ll find that many celebrate failure with what is known as a failure bow. Your fellow classmates applaud as you take a bow, celebrating your mistake. Imagine your laughter is your class applauding as you accept the fact that you, as billions of other people in the world, realize you have made a mistake. 

You don’t have to do this with every mistake - though I encourage it. Try it out with easy mistakes. As with any muscle, it takes repetition to build. And as you build the muscle, it becomes easier to push harder.