Funny Girl (1968) by William Wyler is one of those movies where there is no middle ground: people either love it or hate it.
And yet the movie has been quoted, spoofed, paid homage to for over fifty years. And for good reason.
Still, if you are not a fan and there is only one thing you should remember about the movie, I hope it is Fanny Brice's attitude about humor and self-mockery.
Like she is happy to explain to a puzzled Florenz Ziegfeld, it makes a difference if someone is laughing at you or with you. And while laughing about herself, alone or together with others, she is in charge. She can choose.
It couldn't be more true, and yet very often we forget that.
Above all, about ourselves.
We are so afraid of what would happen if someone would laugh at us, that we forget how powerful it can it to laugh about ourselves once in a while.
Sense of humor, self-mockery, and keeping one's cool are pivotal elements of building up resilience.
If you can laugh at something, you can deal with something.
If you can laugh about yourself, you can deal with yourself and be more tolerant and patient.
That's definitely a skill worth some practicing.
Coaching question of the day:
"When do you usually laugh about yourself?"
And yet the movie has been quoted, spoofed, paid homage to for over fifty years. And for good reason.
Still, if you are not a fan and there is only one thing you should remember about the movie, I hope it is Fanny Brice's attitude about humor and self-mockery.
Like she is happy to explain to a puzzled Florenz Ziegfeld, it makes a difference if someone is laughing at you or with you. And while laughing about herself, alone or together with others, she is in charge. She can choose.
[Laughing about oneself, with self-mockery and compassion,
is surprisingly empowering and liberating]
It couldn't be more true, and yet very often we forget that.
Above all, about ourselves.
We are so afraid of what would happen if someone would laugh at us, that we forget how powerful it can it to laugh about ourselves once in a while.
Sense of humor, self-mockery, and keeping one's cool are pivotal elements of building up resilience.
If you can laugh at something, you can deal with something.
If you can laugh about yourself, you can deal with yourself and be more tolerant and patient.
That's definitely a skill worth some practicing.
Coaching question of the day:
"When do you usually laugh about yourself?"
Tags: Coaching question, Self-coaching, Self-awareness, Self-mockery, Resilience, Self-acceptance, Funny Girl
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