![]() Take a shy, lanky child who had no friends to speak of, who did what was expected of him and you wonder how he became a demonstrative adult choosing a new career later in life that is on the leading edge of the service industry. I chose to study Geology to avoid working in an office, to keep away from people, factories and writing reports and entered the diamond industry where I managed people, worked on ships, in laboratories, built and managed processing plants and wrote many reports. Ironic, but that is the course a human life takes. Our choices lead us on strange paths. Once I'd completed my compulsory military service under the previous South African regime (during which I mapped soil types and walked through nature reserves where the public is forced remain in their vehicles), I learned that people were not so fearful. Rather I learned a bit about myself that made it easier to relate to people. One of the first pass times I jumped into was amateur theatre. With a well rehearsed script it is easy stand in front of a crowd of people and take on another character. I learned to enjoy the response of an audience. In a desire not to make a career of the corporate life I engaged in business ventures in my spare time and through this began a path of personal development. To step out of the comfort zone is unpleasant enough when changes in job occur but when one begins to prepare for an independent business living outside of the comfort zone becomes the norm and personal growth must accompany this. A diverse range of reading, from the practical to the esoteric provided a wealth of material and insight into the heights a person can reach with a little guidance. When life nudged me out of the corporate world I already had a plan for a new career but the vagaries of life ensure that transitions are never smooth when there are still lessons to learn. Laughter entered into this period of transition and I discovered a tool of great power in facilitating transformation. It is not a technique that offers instant results, but then very few do. Through use the technique of laughter shifts the things that over-engage the mind and allows the mind to de-clutter and find perspective. New creativity and innovation become possible and by actively de-stressing through laughter these new ideas can be implemented and developed. I see laughter as the entry tool in preparing for achieving heights of which we are all capable. In a world where stress is the order of the day and the negative effects of stress cripple our ability to achieve our full potential, this tool, laughter, is a much needed answer to achieving a better life. And that is how I come to be a passionate proponent of the technique of laughter for no reason and have dedicated my career to spreading laughter for the growth of the world.
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John-Peter GernaatLaughter Strategist, Laughter Coach, Master Trainer with a passion to assist people transform their lives to reach their highest potential. Archives
November 2013
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