"Stress" is the tofu of vocabulary...

Ubiquitous, bland, and improperly used. Meant to explain everything and nothing. Stress is right there next to “wild” “epic” and “awesome.”

I have to admit that the past few weeks have been stressful. Lots of travel, various events, and little time to sit and relax.

Unless you’ve spent the past decade meditating in Bhutan, I’m sure you can relate to feeling stressed.

I’m yet to have met a single adult that is yet to have felt the feeling of dread, panic and overwhelm. In fact, it’s gotten so bad that, according to a study published by the American Psychological Association, 76% of adults said they’ve felt so stressed it’s led to health issues. 

In today's lexicon, "stress" has become the tofu of vocabulary—ubiquitous, bland, and improperly used. Meant to explain everything and nothing. Stress is right there next to “wild” “epic” and “awesome.” (see PS for more on awesome)

We've diluted the potency of the term, applying it liberally to everything from a missed Uber to the existential dread of a Monday morning or a full to-do list on a Friday evening.

And this “semantic inflation” does us no favors (yes I had to look up that term). It masks the true, corrosive effects of genuine stress under an umbrella term that no one seems to actually define.

I often talk about humor and its ability to reduce stress, and as sincerely as I mean it, I worry that it’s lost its weight. We seem to be both obsessed with, and completely unphased by, stress.

Amidst this inflation (the semantic one, not financial one) I know, that humor can be a powerful, albeit unappreciated, antidote to stress. So how could I not talk about it?

Humor isn't just a temporary distraction; it's a potent psychological and physiological tool.

Research has consistently shown that laughter releases endorphins - the body's natural feel-good chemicals - and reduces the level of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. It's akin to internal jogging, providing a workout for the diaphragm and a boost for the heart and lungs, all while keeping stress at bay.

Humor binds us, creating a shared language that transcends demographics, ideologies, and all the other noise used to divide us. It's a reminder that, at our core, we're all just walking, talking bundles of neuroses trying to make it through the day.

In a culture that celebrates the grind, where "busy" is worn as a badge of honor, levity is so important. It's a break from the barrage of emails, deadlines, and expectations. Levity isn't about ignoring the complexities of life; it's about confronting them with a different weapon: a smile.

Why is it that when asked to envision a smile, our minds often wander to the toothless grin of a baby or the crinkled eyes of a grandparent? I mean just type in “smile” into a stock photography website and it’s a mash between a kindergarten and a retirement home.

These images show a purity of emotion, untainted by the cynicism and guardedness that seems to come from reading the news or sitting in one too many meetings that should have been an email.

The beauty of these smiles lies in their authenticity—they aren’t forced or fake, but gifts, free from the complexities of adult interactions. At the onset and twilight of life, these smiles remind us of a fundamental truth: joy exists, unencumbered and accessible, if only we choose to acknowledge and embrace it.

How can we reclaim this joy? There are lots of ways (I mean I wrote a book about 501 of them), but three that really stand out:

1. Seek Humor: Actively look for opportunities to laugh. Whether it's stand-up comedy, a humorous book, or the absurdity of daily life, humor is often where you least expect it.

2. Be Playful: Give yourself permission to be silly. Adulting is overrated. There's a profound strength in vulnerability, in not taking ourselves too seriously.

3. Share Joy: Humor is contagious. By sharing a joke, a funny story, or even a smile, you're not just lifting your spirits but potentially someone else's as well.

And if you really want to learn how to humor, here’s how you can become a whole humorist.

Whatever you decide to do, have fun doing it. It’s time we try to join the 24% of people who aren’t so stressed.

Personally, I had a cake pop for dessert today, which is not a bad way to get ready for the weekend.

(an)drew

 PS: Here’s a great Eddie Izzard bit where he talks about how the word “awesome” is both used to describe going to outer space and eating a hot dog.