Life is such a valuable opportunity that should not be lost in seriousness.
Life is not serious, you are. While laughter is the best medicine, seriousness is a nightmare sickness, like cancer.
I am reminded of Confucius when one of his disciples askedhim, “will you tell me what happens after death? Confucius answered, all these thoughts about death you can contemplate in your grave after death, RIGHT NOW, LIVE!
Studies has shown that being too serious prevents your bodyfrom releasing the hormones oxytocin and serotonin, which are responsible for our feeling of happiness and promotes good mood. If you are happy, you can do better at work, relationships are brighter, you think positive and you carry a bundle of energy that gets you going the whole day.
There are many reasons why some people tend to be too serious. The responsibilities we carry in our shoulders from work, family, peers – make us tight and loses our sense of fun. We also try to protect our image, by acting according to what society dictates. We do that for the fear of being laughed about or of being rejected. We always seek approval of others, that along the way we lose our true self, which results to sufferings and anger.
How To Take Yourself Less Seriously
Add humor in your life. Surround yourself with funny people and watch comedy shows instead of violent ones.
Let go of your reputation. Remember, your image is not you, it is the perception of others people of you. Do not let your self-worth depend on others approval. Be open, like dance even if you are not good at it. Imagine, the feeling of liberation for acting yourself and to just flow according to your feel.
Have courage. Face the emotion that disturbs your peace and reconcile. Do not agonize about small matters. Ask yourself: What is my gain in keeping this feeling? Is it helpful? Will it make my situation better? Am I taking small things too seriously? Am I worried about real things? Reflect and separate facts from the anticipation created by your mind.
Try to drop the ball on purpose, like being late in an event or by not responding to something quickly as you always did. This is only for the purpose of you to realize that making mistakes will not kill you, like seriousness do.
If you are dealing with a perfectionist, use humor to disarm their approach and smile to change the serious atmosphere.
Find balance. Take your job seriously, but not yourself. When you are serious, you are alone. No one wants to be with a serious person.
If you want the world to be with you, smile and rejoice, and look around you, even the sky and the trees will be smiling back at you.
Namaste.