Don’t Take Life Too Seriously: How to Have More Fun | The Mel Robbins Podcast

1. 0:00 – 1:26

   Intro

   1. MRMel Robbins0:03

      Boy, oh, boy, do I have a story to tell. It involves a wardrobe failure.

   2. CMCrew member0:07

      Yes.

   3. (laughs)

   4. MRMel Robbins0:08

      That is super embarrassing. Are you ready for it?

   5. CMCrew member0:11

      Yes.

   6. Yes.

   7. MRMel Robbins0:11

      Okay, so I literally... I'm embarrassed to tell you this.

   8. CMCrew member0:15

      Don't be. (laughs)

   9. (laughs)

   10. (laughs)

   11. MRMel Robbins0:19

       What do you think I did next?

   12. CMCrew member0:21

       Did you wash your hands?

   13. MRMel Robbins0:22

       No, I smelled it.

   14. CMCrew member0:23

       Oh! I knew you were gonna say that.

   15. No!

   16. MRMel Robbins0:30

       Hey, it's your friend Mel, and welcome to the Mel Robbins Podcast. Let's do this. I am so excited for today. I came running up the stairs above the garage here in our studio in Vermont, and boy, oh, boy, do I have a story to tell not only you, but I'm sitting here with my friends and colleagues, Amy and Jessie. Say hello, guys.

   17. CMCrew member0:53

       (laughs)

   18. Hello.

   19. MRMel Robbins0:55

       Okay. So, I think we're gonna call this a jump on a mic kind of, uh, episode.

   20. CMCrew member1:01

       Yeah.

   21. MRMel Robbins1:01

       Because this is gonna be super random, but I promise you there's a point to it. I have a freaking hilarious story to tell you guys.

   22. CMCrew member1:08

       I can't wait.

   23. Cool.

   24. MRMel Robbins1:09

       It involves a wardrobe failure.

   25. CMCrew member1:10

       (laughs)

   26. Yes.

   27. MRMel Robbins1:11

       That is super embarrassing. And, uh, really, really funny. Are you ready for it?

   28. CMCrew member1:17

       Yes.

   29. Yes.

   30. MRMel Robbins1:18

       Okay, so first of all, I have a question for everybody. Is there any better feeling-
2. 1:26 – 5:48

   The best feeling in the world: unsnapping a bodysuit.

   1. CMCrew member1:26

   2. MRMel Robbins1:26

      ... than taking your bra off at the end of the day?

   3. CMCrew member1:30

      No, period.

   4. (laughs) That's a let loose feeling.

   5. MRMel Robbins1:34

      Yes.

   6. CMCrew member1:35

      Yeah.

   7. MRMel Robbins1:35

      How would you describe that? Like, you literally-

   8. CMCrew member1:37

      Oh.

   9. MRMel Robbins1:37

      ... reach back, unhook.

   10. CMCrew member1:39

       Yeah.

   11. (laughs)

   12. It's like, do you ever get like the itchy, like, ooh, you just wanna rub underneath, like you just wanna just a little shake?

   13. MRMel Robbins1:47

       Shake them loose?

   14. CMCrew member1:48

       Yeah.

   15. MRMel Robbins1:48

       Well, mine sort of fall like pancakes, flat against me, so.

   16. CMCrew member1:50

       Well, gravity doesn't help, but-

   17. MRMel Robbins1:52

       Yes, yes.

   18. CMCrew member1:53

       (laughs) There's... It's a good feeling.

   19. MRMel Robbins1:54

       It's like, it just is like a giant ah.

   20. CMCrew member1:56

       Mm-hmm.

   21. Mm-hmm. Yeah.

   22. MRMel Robbins1:59

       And you know what I wonder? Do dudes have a, like, do they have like a let loose moment?

   23. CMCrew member2:07

       Hmm.

   24. They might always be loose. (laughs)

   25. (laughs) I don't know. It's true.

   26. MRMel Robbins2:13

       No, seriously, it's a serious question.

   27. CMCrew member2:14

       Yeah.

   28. MRMel Robbins2:15

       Is there a moment for a guy that feels as freeing as unhooking your bra?

   29. CMCrew member2:23

       I think, like, you think about a guy in the traditional sense, back in the '50s, coming home from work, walk through the door, first thing he does, loosen up his tie.

   30. Mm.
3. 5:48 – 6:58

   Chris tells us what the equivalent feeling is for men.

   1. CMCrew member5:48

      a little tight. Uh (laughs) , I'm not sure I would go with that, even though I could use that on my, my little rubber tummy.

   2. MRMel Robbins5:58

      Your rubber tummy. You're very cute. All right, that's all we needed. Thank you.

   3. CMCrew member6:01

      You're welcome.

   4. MRMel Robbins6:02

      We love you.Ladies and gentlemen, Christopher Robbins.

   5. CMCrew member6:05

      Thanks for representing.

   6. MRMel Robbins6:06

      Yes. Awesome. And I would love to know, for you listening, is there something that we're missing here that you feel is that moment of it's just like <sings high note at the end of the day?

   7. CMCrew member6:20

      (laughs)

   8. MRMel Robbins6:20

      I- I- You guys are so, uh, creative and, uh, very, uh, sort of interesting in your insights about these things, and so I guarantee we're missing a couple, so I can't wait to hear what you write in about. But the reason why I'm telling you this story is because yesterday, I experienced-

   9. CMCrew member6:38

      (laughs)

   10. MRMel Robbins6:40

       ... a moment of body freedom-

   11. CMCrew member6:43

       (laughs)

   12. Ooh.

   13. MRMel Robbins6:44

       ... that was, I would say, maybe 25 times more liberating than taking a bra off at the end of the day.

   14. CMCrew member6:51

       25 times?

   15. Whoa.

   16. MRMel Robbins6:53

       Yes. Yes.

   17. CMCrew member6:53

       Body freedom?

   18. MRMel Robbins6:54

       It also involves a major wardrobe failure.

4. 6:58 – 12:46

   The major wardrobe failure I had yesterday.

   1. CMCrew member6:58

      Ooh.

   2. Uh-oh.

   3. MRMel Robbins6:59

      So, let me tell you the story, okay?

   4. CMCrew member7:01

      (laughs)

   5. Yeah.

   6. MRMel Robbins7:01

      And as I tell you the story, I would love for you to think about some wardrobe failure that maybe you've had.

   7. CMCrew member7:08

      Oh.

   8. MRMel Robbins7:08

      'Cause these seem to happen to me all the time.

   9. CMCrew member7:10

      (laughs)

   10. (laughs)

   11. MRMel Robbins7:10

       I don't know what it is, but... So, here's- here's what happened. So, my, uh, daughters have recently introduced me to shapewear. Um, I'm a huge fan of Sara Blakely. No, that's not her name.

   12. CMCrew member7:24

       Yeah.

   13. MRMel Robbins7:24

       No, that's the famous actress. Ba- Blakely?

   14. CMCrew member7:28

       Blake Lively?

   15. Blake.

   16. MRMel Robbins7:29

       Blake Lively.

   17. CMCrew member7:30

       (laughs)

   18. MRMel Robbins7:30

       Who am I thinking of? Sara Blakely.

   19. CMCrew member7:32

       Sara Blakely.

   20. MRMel Robbins7:33

       Sara Blakely.

   21. CMCrew member7:33

       Yeah.

   22. MRMel Robbins7:33

       Okay, I immediately had a panic that I was saying her name wrong.

   23. CMCrew member7:35

       (laughs)

   24. Yeah.

   25. MRMel Robbins7:35

       So, Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx.

   26. CMCrew member7:37

       Yeah.

   27. MRMel Robbins7:37

       We had spoken at a bunch of events, uh, together. She is a rockstar. I love her story. I love, uh... But I've never been, sorry Sara, a huge fan of shapewear.

   28. CMCrew member7:49

       Mm.

   29. MRMel Robbins7:49

       And one of the reasons why is because when Spanx first came out, and this is not, like, a slam on Spanx, but when they first came out and I bought a high-waisted pair of bike shorts, they give me gas.

   30. CMCrew member7:59

       (laughs)
5. 12:46 – 14:34

   Pro tip: always test drive a cool outfit before an event (especially if it includes shapewear).

   1. CMCrew member12:46

      the day.

   2. MRMel Robbins12:46

      Now's the day.

   3. CMCrew member12:46

      Yeah.

   4. MRMel Robbins12:46

      Now's the day.

   5. CMCrew member12:47

      Yeah.

   6. MRMel Robbins12:47

      And they're very, like, stretchy fabric, and they were the kind of pants that I wore when I had to go into corporate settings.

   7. CMCrew member12:54

      Okay.

   8. MRMel Robbins12:54

      So, really nicely tailored.

   9. CMCrew member12:56

      Mm-hmm.

   10. MRMel Robbins12:56

       You can see everything in the rear end, so-

   11. CMCrew member12:58

       Oh.

   12. MRMel Robbins12:58

       ... I'm like, "This would be a great moment to wear my bodysuit."

   13. CMCrew member13:02

       Yeah.

   14. MRMel Robbins13:02

       Okay? Right?

   15. CMCrew member13:03

       Right.

   16. Yeah.

   17. MRMel Robbins13:04

       And I've also pulled out a sweater that is a ribbed sweater, so it's tight, right?

   18. CMCrew member13:11

       Yeah.

   19. Ooh.

   20. MRMel Robbins13:11

       And the sweater is, is the boldest colors, so I'm going for, like, the pop art look, right?

   21. CMCrew member13:19

       Nice. Nice.

   22. MRMel Robbins13:19

       I've got on black pants, I've got on black heeled boots, and I've got on this tight ribbed sweater that is bold stripes.

   23. CMCrew member13:27

       Yeah.

   24. MRMel Robbins13:27

       I'm talking Where's Waldo, I look like human caution tape. It is white, and then it is yellow-

   25. CMCrew member13:33

       Ooh. (laughs)

   26. MRMel Robbins13:33

       ... and then it is brown, and then it is black. I'm like a-

   27. CMCrew member13:36

       It's like a s-

   28. MRMel Robbins13:36

       ... bumblebee, kinda.

   29. CMCrew member13:37

       I love it.

   30. MRMel Robbins13:38

       Yes.
6. 14:34 – 16:39

   The worst wedgie that I have ever had.

   1. MRMel Robbins14:34

      I get out of the car and I try to reach back and pull it-

   2. CMCrew member14:38

      (laughs)

   3. MRMel Robbins14:38

      ... down a little while I'm in the parking garage, right?

   4. CMCrew member14:40

      Yeah.

   5. Uh-uh. Yeah.

   6. MRMel Robbins14:41

      And I can't-

   7. CMCrew member14:41

      Can't do it.

   8. MRMel Robbins14:42

      ... get a grip.

   9. CMCrew member14:42

      That's a two-hand job.

   10. MRMel Robbins14:43

       Yes. But I don't know that, right? And plus, I'm, plus the thing is starting in about five minutes, so I gotta-

   11. CMCrew member14:49

       (laughs)

   12. MRMel Robbins14:49

       ... I gotta go. So, I stick my hand down the back of my pants and try to just, like, move it-

   13. CMCrew member14:54

       Yeah.

   14. MRMel Robbins14:55

       ... down a little.

   15. CMCrew member14:55

       Yeah.

   16. Yeah. Okay.

   17. MRMel Robbins14:55

       And that works. That works.

   18. CMCrew member14:58

       (laughs)

   19. MRMel Robbins14:58

       I literally, I'm embarrassed to tell you this-

   20. CMCrew member15:01

       Okay.

   21. Don't be. (laughs)

   22. (laughs)

   23. MRMel Robbins15:05

       What do you think I did next?

   24. CMCrew member15:07

       Did you wash your hands?

   25. MRMel Robbins15:08

       No, I smelled it.

   26. CMCrew member15:09

       Oh, I knew you were gonna say that! No! No.

   27. MRMel Robbins15:15

       It did not smell bad. And I'm like, "Okay. (phew) Okay," so-

   28. CMCrew member15:19

       (laughs)

   29. MRMel Robbins15:20

       ... I- I-

   30. CMCrew member15:20

       Wouldn't you have smelled your hand?
7. 16:39 – 19:45

   I can’t believe I just admitted this, but don’t we all do this?

   1. CMCrew member16:39

      just telling all the details of the story.

   2. MRMel Robbins16:42

      You know-

   3. CMCrew member16:42

      Getting into all of it.

   4. That's what I'm here for.

   5. Yes, okay.

   6. (laughs)

   7. MRMel Robbins16:45

      So, I'm like, "Okay, I'm good. I have five minutes to get two city blocks to an event that's about to begin."

   8. CMCrew member16:52

      Yeah.

   9. MRMel Robbins16:52

      And so I start to walk, and I'm, as I'm, what's it called? Forward ambulation.

   10. CMCrew member16:57

       (laughs)

   11. MRMel Robbins16:57

       That's what the neuroscientists call it. I'm forward ambulating as I walk. And as I'm walking, and I'm walking like I'm late-

   12. CMCrew member17:04

       Yeah.

   13. MRMel Robbins17:04

       ... 'cause I'm about to be late-

   14. CMCrew member17:06

       Yeah.

   15. MRMel Robbins17:07

       ... I'm realizing I have a very long torso.

   16. CMCrew member17:09

       Oh. (laughs)

   17. MRMel Robbins17:09

       Because as I'm walking, this fricking bodysuit is starting to slowly inch up.

   18. CMCrew member17:16

       (laughs) Oh, God.

   19. MRMel Robbins17:18

       And the bodysuit is starting to give me a simultaneous-

   20. CMCrew member17:22

       (laughs)

   21. MRMel Robbins17:24

       ... wedgie in the front and the back, which basically means I had both a camel toe and a piece of floss-

   22. CMCrew member17:31

       Oh.

   23. MRMel Robbins17:31

       ... that was starting to go up and up and up like a hammock-

   24. CMCrew member17:35

       (laughs)

   25. MRMel Robbins17:35

       ... from the front to the back. And so now I can't stride it out 'cause Imma split myself in half.

   26. CMCrew member17:40

       Mm-hmm.

   27. MRMel Robbins17:40

       And so now I'm shuffling as fast as I possibly can-

   28. CMCrew member17:44

       Yeah.

   29. MRMel Robbins17:44

       ... 'cause I don't want a big stride.

   30. CMCrew member17:46

       No.
8. 19:45 – 22:10

   The most important thing to do in embarrassing situations: laugh at yourself.

   1. MRMel Robbins19:45

      like, "Why can't you do that?" And... And I just was like, "This is the craziest..." I was laughing at myself.

   2. CMCrew member19:52

      Good.

   3. MRMel Robbins19:52

      I mean, that's-

   4. CMCrew member19:53

      Yes.

   5. MRMel Robbins19:53

      ... so important in life, to be able to whisper in your friend's ear that you got a wedgie, to be able to laugh at yourself as you're in a bathroom in, like, what you think is the best art forward outfit that you've ever put on-

   6. CMCrew member20:06

      (laughs)

   7. MRMel Robbins20:06

      ... in a brand new body suit that you've-

   8. CMCrew member20:07

      Yeah.

   9. MRMel Robbins20:07

      ... never tested, like, in a real life situation.

   10. CMCrew member20:11

       Yeah.

   11. MRMel Robbins20:11

       I am yanking it down on the sides to give me a couple extra inches so that I can straighten out the middle and get it repositioned in place.

   12. CMCrew member20:18

       (laughs)

   13. (laughs)

   14. MRMel Robbins20:19

       Un- unsnapping it was not an option, because what happens when you unsnap a body suit?

   15. CMCrew member20:23

       Oh, I, it, the snaps hit your teeth. It goes up so far.

   16. MRMel Robbins20:26

       Yeah, basically rolls up like a window shade.

   17. CMCrew member20:28

       Oh.

   18. MRMel Robbins20:28

       And plus this thing, like, I was afraid if I unsnap it, it's gonna hang out the front and the back, and God knows it's now got stuff on it because I don't have underwear on.

   19. CMCrew member20:36

       (laughs)

   20. MRMel Robbins20:36

       And I'm like, "This is a disaster."

   21. CMCrew member20:38

       It has been up there. Yeah, you don't know.

   22. MRMel Robbins20:40

       Yes, yes.

   23. CMCrew member20:41

       Yeah.

   24. MRMel Robbins20:41

       And so, I get it all positioned, and the problem is, is that now as I'm pulling it down, it's pulling off my boobs.

   25. CMCrew member20:48

       Oh, no.

   26. Like, it's not on your boobs anymore.

   27. MRMel Robbins20:50

       No. And so I have a look.

   28. CMCrew member20:52

       It's that long torso.

   29. Oh.

   30. MRMel Robbins20:53

       Yes, I have a long torso.
9. 22:10 – 27:03

   Let everyone in on the joke, it will change the dynamic.

   1. CMCrew member22:10

      am the joke. Guess what? It's like-"

   2. Yeah. You are the joke.

   3. MRMel Robbins22:12

      But it's a relatable joke.

   4. CMCrew member22:13

      Yeah. Yes. Yeah.

   5. MRMel Robbins22:14

      And I think, it's an interesting point that you just made about the kinda distinction between not giving a shit versus being able to laugh at yourself, because they are related but it's a different thing, and I think both are really important. Um, the not giving a shit part is the ability to whisper in your friend's ear-

   6. CMCrew member22:34

      Yeah.

   7. MRMel Robbins22:34

      ... that you have a wedgie right now.

   8. CMCrew member22:36

      Mm-hmm.

   9. MRMel Robbins22:37

      And to tell people the disaster that just happened in the bathroom.

   10. CMCrew member22:39

       Yeah.

   11. MRMel Robbins22:40

       Right?

   12. CMCrew member22:40

       (laughs)

   13. MRMel Robbins22:41

       And that is one layer that I think is really important, and the second thing though, which has been very freeing for me, is just, like, loosening the grip and being able to laugh at these moments.

   14. CMCrew member22:55

       Mm-hmm.

   15. MRMel Robbins22:56

       And it's, it's interesting because humor, w- we've done a lot of research on humor because of speeches that I've given or other projects that we've done for Audible, and there's so much research about having a sense of humor-

   16. CMCrew member23:08

       Mm-hmm.

   17. MRMel Robbins23:09

       ... and how when you have a sense of humor, the, the research is kinda bananas. In fact, why don't we take a break? And this is a great time to allow our sponsors to entertain you for a second, and let's dig into the research real quick while you guys are listening to a commercial, because I think it's important to explain that humor is actually a really important skill and asset in life.

   18. CMCrew member23:32

       Oh yeah.

   19. Yeah.

   20. MRMel Robbins23:33

       And if I recall correctly, it's like, it makes other people think you're intelligent. They trust you more. It exudes confidence-

   21. CMCrew member23:40

       Yeah.

   22. Yes.

   23. MRMel Robbins23:40

       ... in the workplace, in, in sp- and I realize this was not in the workplace. I mean, it was like a professional event.

   24. CMCrew member23:45

       Yeah, but it was, it was, it was professional though, you know?

   25. MRMel Robbins23:47

       Yes.

   26. CMCrew member23:47

       You were dressed up, yeah.

   27. It wasn't like you were sitting on the couch-

   28. Yeah.

   29. MRMel Robbins23:49

       Yeah.

   30. CMCrew member23:49

       ... with your girlfriends.
10. 27:03 – 30:30

    My ultimate moment of relief.

    1. CMCrew member27:03

       (laughs)

    2. MRMel Robbins27:03

       If you think taking a bra off or a pair of bike shorts off-

    3. CMCrew member27:09

       Yeah. (sighs)

    4. MRMel Robbins27:10

       ... for you gentlemen out there, feels liberating-

    5. CMCrew member27:14

       Mm-mm.

    6. MRMel Robbins27:15

       ... try unsnapping-

    7. CMCrew member27:17

       (laughs)

    8. MRMel Robbins27:17

       ... a thong bodysuit that's too small.

    9. CMCrew member27:20

       Mm.

    10. MRMel Robbins27:21

        That has been slowly constricting your circulation for two hours-

    11. CMCrew member27:28

        Oh, my God.

    12. MRMel Robbins27:29

        ... while you ate poached salmon and asparagus.

    13. CMCrew member27:32

        Mm-mm. Right.

    14. MRMel Robbins27:34

        I just wanted to stand there for a minute with my legs-

    15. CMCrew member27:37

        Yeah.

    16. MRMel Robbins27:37

        ... shoulder width apart.

    17. CMCrew member27:38

        (laughs) Yes.

    18. MRMel Robbins27:38

        You know, just... (laughs) I just (groans) .

    19. CMCrew member27:43

        It's, it's expansion from all sides. It's not just the bra.

    20. MRMel Robbins27:46

        Oh.

    21. CMCrew member27:46

        Yeah, yeah.

    22. MRMel Robbins27:47

        It's like you, that is the definition of let loose.

    23. CMCrew member27:51

        Yeah.

    24. MRMel Robbins27:51

        Yes.

    25. CMCrew member27:51

        Yeah.

    26. MRMel Robbins27:52

        Yes.

    27. CMCrew member27:52

        (laughs)

    28. MRMel Robbins27:52

        You let it all loose. And sure enough, just as I suspected, you know, it rolls up, I, I button my pants back up, I step out from a side, the side of the door. I shut the door. Lisa is laughing hysterically because now, of course, I have a, I have the front part hanging down in front.

    29. CMCrew member28:10

        Oh.

    30. MRMel Robbins28:10

        And the back part like a tail.
11. 30:30 – 32:19

    How turning something embarrassing into something hilarious and relatable tightens bonds.

    1. MRMel Robbins30:30

       embarrassing and somewhat painful into something hilarious and relatable shifted everything about it. And I wanted to share this story, and by the way, we will share the photo with you. If you're watching on YouTube, congratulations, because you've already seen it.

    2. CMCrew member30:45

       (laughs)

    3. MRMel Robbins30:45

       If you are listening to this, just look in the show notes and we will link to this photo. But we, we, we, uh, tape all of our podcast episodes. We put up longer unedited, unabridged kind of versions of it, behind the scenes stuff, if you ever wanna check that out. But I mean, it's just so funny and, and it kind of brings me full circle to this idea of how do you use... How do you develop a sense of humor? Because just like I had to like unsnap the hole that the body suit had-

    4. CMCrew member31:16

       Yeah. (laughs) Yeah.

    5. MRMel Robbins31:16

       And it created so much freedom for me.

    6. CMCrew member31:18

       Yeah. Yeah.

    7. MRMel Robbins31:20

       When you unsnap the judgment and the seriousness and the gotta be perfect and act like a robot mentality that so many of us have-

    8. CMCrew member31:30

       Yeah.

    9. Mm-hmm.

    10. MRMel Robbins31:31

        ... you're missing out on one of the greatest joys in life, which is learning how to laugh at yourself.

    11. CMCrew member31:35

        Yeah. True.

    12. MRMel Robbins31:35

        Like it's one thing to not give a shit about what other people think, and we, for those of you interested, we did a incredible podcast about the art of not giving a shit.

    13. CMCrew member31:43

        Mm-hmm.

    14. MRMel Robbins31:44

        Hugely popular. Uh, you can check that out. We'll link it to the show notes. But this is about something else. It's about allowing yourself the freedom to be human and learning how to laugh at yourself.

    15. CMCrew member31:56

        Yeah. A-

    16. MRMel Robbins31:57

        And Amy, I wanna bring you into this, because you are a standup comic. You do improv.

    17. CMCrew member32:03

        Yeah.

    18. MRMel Robbins32:03

        You, you, you actually perform on stages.

    19. CMCrew member32:06

        Yeah. At a, at a amateur level, but yeah. Yeah, because becoming someone who looks at the world in a funny way is not just something that you're, you're born with. You can really get funnier.

12. 32:19 – 34:55

    Why does Amy do stand-up comedy and can you develop a sense of humor at any point?

    1. CMCrew member32:19

    2. Mm.

    3. And you can develop a sense of humor-

    4. Hmm.

    5. ... beyond anything that you think that you have right now.

    6. Hmm.

    7. And I think it's worthwhile.

    8. MRMel Robbins32:26

       Oh, I do too. Like, I think, like, if you unpack that story, which it's like pretty funny.

    9. CMCrew member32:31

       Yeah.

    10. MRMel Robbins32:32

        But I think it's funny 'cause it's relatable.

    11. CMCrew member32:34

        Yes.

    12. Yeah.

    13. MRMel Robbins32:34

        And it's also funny because it's the things that we don't talk about, and I think when you make fun of yourself, you allow people to bond with you-

    14. CMCrew member32:43

        Mm-hmm.

    15. MRMel Robbins32:43

        ... over the shit that's relatable in life.

    16. CMCrew member32:45

        Yeah.

    17. We all do it.

    18. MRMel Robbins32:46

        Yeah.

    19. CMCrew member32:47

        Yeah.

    20. MRMel Robbins32:47

        Yeah. And so I, I think that that's a piece of it. Like, if I had to give any advice about it, 'cause this is something that I've been working on, because I've always been so hard on myself, and learning how to laugh at yourself. Not in like a condescending like, "Oh." But more like, "That's fucking funny-"

    21. CMCrew member33:04

        Yeah.

    22. MRMel Robbins33:05

        ... that's funny that I just constantly do whatever it is that I do."

    23. CMCrew member33:09

        Yep. Yeah.

    24. Yeah.

    25. MRMel Robbins33:09

        And, and it allows other people in. And I think that's the thing that people miss.

    26. CMCrew member33:14

        Yes. Well, that's the thing that I admire most about you, and I think that's the thing that, that stood out to me the most in this story, is that you don't keep it to yourself and just say, "Oh, gosh-

    27. MRMel Robbins33:25

        Right.

    28. CMCrew member33:25

        ... I'm, I'm-

    29. MRMel Robbins33:25

        Right.

    30. CMCrew member33:26

        ... what, that, this is really funny. I can't believe this is happening." You do not do things in a whisper. You know, you do them out loud-
13. 34:55 – 37:59

    According to research, the funnier the person, the more respect and power you hold.

    1. MRMel Robbins34:55

       to you when you lighten up, and we did do a little bit of research very quickly. I, I will link to the studies, but just the things that I jotted down are really important. Like first of all, people respect leaders-

    2. CMCrew member35:09

       Mm-hmm.

    3. MRMel Robbins35:09

       ... that are funny-

    4. CMCrew member35:10

       Mm-hmm.

    5. MRMel Robbins35:11

       ... more than people who aren't.

    6. CMCrew member35:13

       Yeah.

    7. MRMel Robbins35:13

       And the research shows that a sense of humor, when we meet somebody with a sense of humor, we believe that somebody with a sense of humor, I'm not talking about an inappropriate one, an appropriate sense of humor, we believe they're confident. We believe they're more powerful. We immediately raise up their status. We think they're intelligent.

    8. CMCrew member35:36

       Mm-hmm.

    9. MRMel Robbins35:37

       And they tend to be somebody we like more because there is this, like, bond that gets created between somebody that cracks jokes, makes fun of themselves, makes fun of a situation that feels relatable and true. It's like letting you in-

    10. CMCrew member35:55

        Mm-hmm.

    11. MRMel Robbins35:56

        ... on something personal.

    12. CMCrew member35:57

        Yeah.

    13. It's like a trust.

    14. MRMel Robbins35:58

        And here's another thing. When it comes to work, this is really interesting, 98% of executives, according to one study, said they would prefer an employee with a sense of humor.

    15. CMCrew member36:09

        Wow.

    16. Mm-hmm.

    17. MRMel Robbins36:09

        And 84% of those same leaders believe that people with a sense of humor do better work.

    18. CMCrew member36:15

        Mm-hmm.

    19. Wow. Those are high numbers.

    20. High numbers, and I think it goes beyond that class clown thing.

    21. MRMel Robbins36:21

        Yes.

    22. CMCrew member36:21

        You know? Like, somebody that's just funny is really likable and s- you know, that, that funny is, is cute and funny makes, uh, time pass and-

    23. MRMel Robbins36:30

        Mm-hmm.

    24. CMCrew member36:30

        ... funny, you know, um-

    25. It's like attention.

    26. Yeah.

    27. But it's

    28. (instrumental music)

    29. Yeah. Funny begs attention. Yeah.

    30. MRMel Robbins36:36

        Yeah.
14. 37:59 – 42:38

    I invite you to do this one thing: laugh at yourself.

    1. MRMel Robbins37:59

       or it's the fact that you're talking to your kids' teacher and all of a sudden you belch in the middle of a sentence and then you both burst out laughing. Or what about the time that I farted at work and I thought Jessie-

    2. CMCrew member38:11

       Such a great day.

    3. MRMel Robbins38:12

       ... was going to lose her mind.

    4. CMCrew member38:15

       (laughs)

    5. Yes.

    6. MRMel Robbins38:15

       She was laughing so hard. We had to stop down work for three minutes, you guys, because she could not get control of herself.

    7. CMCrew member38:23

       Yeah.

    8. Oh, you ripped it.

    9. MRMel Robbins38:23

       And so you know what I did next? The second I felt one coming, I actually pushed it out.

    10. CMCrew member38:28

        (laughs)

    11. MRMel Robbins38:28

        Because I knew if I did a second one, she would lose her goddamn mind, and she did.

    12. CMCrew member38:33

        Yeah.

    13. (laughs)

    14. MRMel Robbins38:33

        And so I just feel like stop taking yourself so damn seriously.

    15. CMCrew member38:38

        Mm-hmm.

    16. Yeah.

    17. MRMel Robbins38:39

        Learning to lighten up and loosen the grip and unsnap the, uh, life bodysuit you got on yourself-

    18. CMCrew member38:44

        Mm-hmm.

    19. MRMel Robbins38:45

        ... and be a little human, it lets people in, it lets up the pressure on you.

    20. CMCrew member38:50

        Mm-hmm.

    21. MRMel Robbins38:50

        It makes you more relatable.

    22. CMCrew member38:52

        Mm-hmm.

    23. Yeah.

    24. MRMel Robbins38:52

        It makes you seem smarter and more confident because you are. Because it takes a confident person the ability to look at life and those dumbass situations that happen and turn it into a joke-

    25. CMCrew member39:03

        Mm-hmm.

    26. MRMel Robbins39:04

        ... instead of something to ruminate about.

    27. CMCrew member39:06

        Yes.

    28. Love that.

    29. MRMel Robbins39:07

        All right, I'm off my soapbox now. Thank you.

    30. CMCrew member39:09

        Yeah.

Episode duration: 42:38