Week7 Chapter8 Lighten Up!

Strategy8 Find something to celebrate and something to laugh about

Laughter and Humor are seemingly hardest things to emphasize when situation is tough. However, successful presentation of cerebration makes huge energy and power among people as author described lighten up as “It can enable people to step back and get psychological distance on their problems”.(113) Therefore, people can “refocus, reenergize, and surmount”(113) as a team to face/solve difficulties.

The story that Shackleton made sure to keep Hussey’s banjo for “vital mental medicine” (118) and MARTHA awards which is heartfelt encouragement for people are impressive. Shackleton’s ability to make the mood of the group as lighthearted as possible promoted crew’s motivation surely.

I personally think “lighten up” is necessary not only when team face tough situation, but also when people individually have hard time in their lives. During a time of the entrance exam for university and the examination for graduating from high school, I was really stressed and facing enormous pressures to achieve these exams. Despite necessity of consistent efforts every one of day, I also recognize an importance of being happy to keep me healthy physically and psychologically. So I made some “lighten up” time to feel refreshed. I usually went for walk with my host family with horses and saw animals around the house. I sometimes did cooking and baking and shared with host family and friends. Interactions with other people always make laughter, and I think when people around me smiles, it also makes me smile. These “lighten up” time helped me to survive stressful time, and sometimes gave me a solution for brake down.

After reading this chapter, I was determined to "Be the first to laugh" when I face difficult situation in the future. In this way, I think I can contribute to a team to keep good condition physically and psychologically.