Summary

The web content discusses the transformative power of embracing silliness in adulthood, illustrated through personal anecdotes and the positive impact on oneself and others.

Abstract

The article titled "How Is Silliness Creating Magic?" delves into the author's experiences with silliness and its ripple effects on social interactions. It argues that silliness can be a tool for personal growth and connection, challenging the notion that it's solely a childlike trait. Through stories such as an engaging locker room conversation, an entertaining response to a dancing class technical issue, and an impactful trip to India, the author demonstrates how silliness can foster joy, build rapport, and encourage others to embrace their inner child. The piece emphasizes the importance of nurturing the soul with self-deprecating humor rather than toxic humor that demeans others, and it advocates for the freedom that comes with being publicly silly.

Opinions

The author believes that silliness can be reclaimed in adulthood and lead to multiple positive outcomes, including the development of virtues.
Silliness is seen as a way to maintain social connections and exercise the "muscle" of social interaction, as illustrated in the gym locker room story.
The author suggests that enthusiasm in foolish actions can turn potentially negative situations, like technical difficulties during a dance class, into opportunities for connection and entertainment.
The article posits that being silly can lead to memorable and meaningful interactions, as evidenced by the author's experience at the HRD Congress in India, where they prioritized genuine conversation over formal networking.
The author values the impact of their actions on others, as shown by the gratitude received from a stranger at the dancing class and the connections made at the congress in India.
The author emphasizes that humor aimed at oneself nurtures the soul, contrasting it with toxic humor that harms rather than heals.
Embracing silliness is presented as a path to empowerment, freedom from societal constraints, and service to others by inspiring them to liberate themselves from limiting beliefs.
The author expresses a desire for readers to experience the freedom of silliness and invites them to join a community of like-minded individuals through a subscription link.

CONFESSIONS

How Is Silliness Creating Magic?

You will be amazed by its butterfly effect I promise!

Children have one kind of silliness, as you know, and grown-ups have another kind ~ C. S. Lewis

I owe the guy a lot of respect, but I need to argue and add “Until we re-write the program!”. Does this mean we can behave like free kids again? Oh yes, and this is only one of the multiple outcomes and acquired virtues!

The gym locker room

I enter the gym locker room with a friend after two of my favorite cardio classes. My endorphins are at their highest levels. I am hovering and excited, talking, and laughing nonstop!

My girlfriend goes to take her shower. So what? I have many other friends in the room! I am in the same place for 25 min. People who arrived after me are ready to leave. I am still in my sweaty clothes.

I pause, and look at myself before adding, “Goodness; can’t believe how messy I am!”.

The room is crowded. There are many girls I’ve never seen before. Their facial expressions are showing their confusion. I notice it and laugh internally!

“Well, we’re here partially to maintain our muscles. My tongue is also a muscle; isn’t it?”.

Those few words are accompanied by a mischievous smile drawn on my face. I hear many beautiful giggles. For the shyest of them, I can see a smile in their eyes!

The dancing class technical issue video

“You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm” ~ Colette

It is our Sh’bam dancing class Halloween party. There is a technical problem. The music keeps shutting down. The dancing keeps being interrupted. People are becoming bothered and impatient.

I am on stage with a few regulars. No panic! Let’s entertain this audience, shall we?

I am not on the stage anymore. I am drinking some water when somebody hugs me from behind. I turn to see a girl I don’t know. “Can you please make sure not to miss the class again? It is not the same without you!”.

I am beyond humbled. The feeling is simply priceless. She is a good friend today.

The HRD Congress in India

“Silliness makes your soul smile” ~ Doe Zantamata

Sure, but there is a bonus to which we’ll come back later! I was invited to India to give a talk. It was a 3-day event. Each day, there were five speeches every 30 minutes.

I was late for the first ceremony. I had such an exhausting 22-hour trip. I didn’t sleep the whole night and needed to take some rest. I had to deliver my speech the following day.

I met the coordinator. We had a quick chat, and I headed for the buffet. I was starving!

There was a guy. He approached me, pushed my “passion” button, and I started talking and talking… and talking 😁.

The guy was listening and only interrupted me for a second to say, “You need to know that I’m the talker in general, that I can rarely listen to someone for more than a minute”. I had a blast!

Many were observing the scene and joined our table. The joiners asked me for my business card, to which I answered:

I don’t have any, and this is intentional. I am my card. If I succeed in building a rapport, you will not need it to remember me.

I’ll need pages to write about the whole fabulous stay. But I can give you this hint: I ate all my meals cold. The sentence I heard the most was “Please eat; I’m sorry I triggered your passion in any way!”

During the last ceremony party, my guy took this video. Nobody asked him to do it. I never remember to take pictures. My mother is always frustrated because of it.

This guy was sitting next to me during the Awards ceremony. We talked, had fun, and clapped together! We exchanged our LinkedIn profiles so that we to keep in touch. After I was back home, I shared the video above and was moved to my core by his heartfelt testimonial!

Takeaways

We can act absolutely like a 5-year-old while our biological age is 50. Is that a learned skill? No. It is the result of the reconnection with our inner child through seriously committing to the transformational adventure.

Why are people who are laughing at a self-deprecating joke having smiling eyes? Because this kind of humor nurtures their souls. On the other hand, it is the unhealthy ego that is being taken care of when listening to toxic humor — downgrading a person or a whole community. That’s why the eyes are mean.

What does being a silly person trigger in people around you?

Making them pause and not take themselves too seriously when facing hardship (the technical issue story). Permitting them to start liberating themselves, and giving them the hope that, maybe — just maybe, it could be their turn one day to be free.

Free from the adulthood biased concept; free from the stigmas; free from the limiting beliefs; free from the draining rules; free from their unhealthy ego’s grip.

Why am I so in love with being publicly silly? Because nothing is making me fulfilled as much as being in service and empowering others in any possible way.

I hope you will all be able to experience this freedom sensation one day if not yet done. Fingers crossed!

If you enjoyed your read and that you can get excited about the idea, we can become email friends here! Also, if you like the purpose of my humble mission, you can buy me a coffee here: https://ko-fi.com/myriambensalem