The strength of the month for March is Humor. This is what VIA says about Humor, “If Humor is your top strength you like to laugh and tease. Bringing smiles to other people is important to you. You try to see the light side of all situations. Humor falls under the virtue category of Transcendence. Transcendence describes strengths that provide a broad sense of connection to something higher in meaning and purpose than ourselves.”
Humor is not one of my signature strengths, but it is high for me. I love to laugh and can make a joke of just about anything. Humor in the workplace is essential in my opinion. Thankfully, I have several colleagues in my immediate work space who have humor as either a top or signature strength. We laugh every single day and it helps to lighten the mood and we have a lot of fun together. One of our core values at Mayerson Academy is “Spreading Joy” and these folks definitely do that well.
I was having some major writer’s block when trying to pull this blog together. I stared at the VIA definition of humor for almost two entire days off and on and I had literally zero ideas for what to write about. That was a little depressing to me with as much as I like to laugh. So I did what I always do when I want to find some inspiration or research the most credible sources on the planet. I went down the rabbit hole that is the Inter-WEBS. You know, because everything on the internet is totally true.
Down the rabbit hole I went. I did a google search for the word humor. Then, I searched for humor as a character strength. Then, I searched for why is humor good for you. Then I went into the realm of laughter. I found some really interesting and hilarious stuff that I never knew existed such as but not limited to; laughter meditation and laughter yoga. I looked at a lot of laughing videos and watched a few Ted Talks on humor and laughter. If nothing else, my internet escapade improved my depressed mood that the writer’s block had created.
Somewhere along the way I had an epiphany though, nothing was really inspiring me to write about this topic because humor is something that can’t quite be fully described with words. It has to be experienced. Humor is so fascinating and fun. It is also meant as something to be shared with others. For the rest of this month I am going to challenge myself to make someone laugh at least once a day. I invite you to do the same!
Join us as we take the month of March to celebrate the strength of Humor!
For more information on VIA Institute on Character or to take the free survey visit: http://www.viacharacter.org
