Jollytologist Allen Klein
Allen Klein: I call myself a “Jollytologist” because I go around the country giving keynote presentations and workshops on therapeutic humor. The Greek word “gelos” means laughter and “ology” is the study of a subject, so I’m really a “Gelotologist” but not many people know what that is. So I changed it to “Jollytologist” which at least gives them a clue.
Omtimes: How can people be happier every day of the year?
Allen Klein: One extremely simple way to be happier is to be grateful for whatever you have in your life instead of bemoaning what you don’t have or what has gone wrong. So often we focus on all of the negative things in our life. Yes, stuff happens in life that zaps our happiness. But we need not focus on it.
Gratitude has the power to help us rise above any situation. It is life affirming. It can provide hope. And, perhaps most important, it can help us let go of the past and focus on the abundance that surrounds us now.
If you want to be happier, start a gratitude journal and make sure you write in it everyday. Tomorrow morning, before you get out of bed, think of at least one thing that you are thankful for. And then, when you get out of bed, start writing down all the wonderful things in you life. You can be thankful for: -a penny found on the street -the cookies a neighbor brought you -the friends you have -a rainbow -flowers in the park -a cup of tea.
