Why did I stop laughing the way I used to?
One day my neighbor found me in the square, arms crossed, glaring at a pigeon. "Hodja," he said, "why do you frown at that bird?" I said, "I am making sure it does not have more fun than me." He said, "Does it?" I said, "Yes. And I cannot forgive it." You did not lose your sense of play. You started treating it like a debt you have to pay off before you're allowed to enjoy anything. Seriousness became proof you were working hard, especially in front of others. So you performed it, and performing it became a habit, and the habit ate the joy. With a pod or a team, this gets worse fast. Everyone is quietly checking everyone else's face to see who's allowed to laugh first. No one wants to be the fool who broke the somber mood over nothing. So the whole room stays heavy together, each person thinking the others need it that way.
You didn't lose your joy. You started guarding it, waiting for someone else to laugh first. Someone always has to break the ice. Practice being that person, especially around others — laughter spreads once one person risks it, never before.
What changes unlock by starting
- The group starts laughing without waiting for someone to say it's okay.
- You notice who in the room unlocks lightness, and lean on them on purpose.
- Seriousness stops being confused with competence inside the group.
- You catch yourself being playful outside work too, without deciding to.