The clown in you
I've been teaching clowning workshops all over the world since 1998. The vast majority of my students don't intend to become professional clowns; they come for very different reasons. They often tell me that they haven't laughed in a long time, that as children they were more spontaneous and happy , that they used to be curious about life, but that over the years they've lost those aspects of their personality. They feel that perhaps their clown can help them reconnect with the joy and enthusiasm of being alive.
And they're not wrong. The experience of inhabiting "the clown state" leaves no one indifferent. Because a natural consequence of connecting with it is immediate access to the positive attitudes and behaviors of our own inner clown. In fact, there are countless beneficial effects, because clowns:
- They have no qualms about revealing their true nature; by turns, animal, human, or angelic.
- They have a talent for quickly connecting with others, turning any situation into comedy, and making everything a game.
- They are curious by nature, they follow their creative impulses and are always open to changing course if something new catches their interest.
- They are transgressors; they are not limited by the rules and norms imposed by society.
- They are heart-centered, present, and emotionally alive.
- They are dedicated to creating stimulating experiences that provoke laughter, inspiration, or healing.
In my 27 years as a teacher, I've observed that everyone has their own inner clown . A clown identity, a " clown-id " (I think Freud was too serious to notice it). And the good news is that you don't need to take a clowning course, go on stage, or even wear a red nose to discover it (although these things do make the process easier).
We dropped our masks and armor and, without thinking, showed ourselves as we truly are: human, ridiculous, and capable of laughing at ourselves.
That essential self that is your clown—the funny, innocent, mischievous, and uninhibited self—will appear in an instant when we begin to play . In the game, we drop our masks and armor (our defenses against the cruel world) and, without thinking, reveal ourselves as we truly are: human, ridiculous, and capable of laughing at ourselves.
UTeenagers Theatre Company
However, in the process of becoming adults , we become more adulterated, as we are supposed to become increasingly responsible, serious, and hardworking... always. Unfortunately, an adult who pursues fun is negatively labeled: frivolous, a party animal, out of touch with reality, irresponsible. Of course, there are very serious things happening in the world, and I believe that some realities, such as war, hunger, or poverty, cannot be taken lightly, but there are many other stimuli in life that we can experience with a less serious attitude.
"I'm an adult, but that doesn't mean losing sight of adventure, beauty, or the pleasure of life. I can be an adult who feels, who plays, who shares with others, and who is interested in his surroundings." David Berga, professional clown
Suggestions to awaken your clown
So, while it's true you can become a clown in an instant, being able to do it whenever you want requires some unlearning and practice. Fortunately, it's a skill you can incorporate into your daily life.
The first step is to turn off "autopilot" and open yourself up to the possibility of turning even the most mundane tasks into games. This is something we all did constantly as children to avoid boredom, so you're already an expert at it! Here are some suggestions:
- Become a celebrity stylist and, using shaving foam, discover the craziest hairstyle you can create for yourself.
- Put on Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive " at full volume and lip -sync using the shower head as a microphone.
- Put a sock on one hand and have a conversation with him about his life in a drawer or his experience in the washing machine.
- Become a pirate defending your loot. Start a pillow fight with your partner or your roommates, terrible enemies who want to steal it from you.
If you need inspiration to play, even with the chores you dislike most, make a list of your childhood pleasures or observe children . For example, when my daughter was six, after dinner, I asked her to clean up the chocolate mousse that had spilled on the table. Hearing me, she made a face because she obviously didn't want to do that chore. I gave her "my look," indicating that she had no choice. Then she took a paper towel and gently placed it on the mousse. Suddenly, she slammed her fist into the brown clump that appeared in the center of the napkin. She slammed it again and again, squashing the mousse in all directions. Then she slid the napkin from side to side, spreading the mousse over an even wider area. She began to hum to herself. When she had anointed half the table with mousse, she lifted the napkin like a magician, "Ta-da!" She was very pleased with her work of art. I intervened again, telling her the table had to be clean. She grimaced again. I handed her a cloth to finish the job, and suddenly she transformed into a professional table cleaner, elegantly wiping away the dirt until it was spotless.
The use of humor is an important survival mechanism. It allows us to momentarily experience "self-forgetfulness," an act of detachment that allows us to release and dissolve our tensions, sadness, anxieties, or fears.
As I mentioned, the second step is to break the pattern of seriousness that has taken hold of us. How do we do this? By seizing every opportunity to laugh, at ourselves and with others . The positive effects of laughter and humor have on people have been widely publicized over the last decade. We now know that regularly using our sense of humor increases our capacity to:
- Accepting ourselves as we are.
- Communicating our feelings.
- Relating to others.
- Overcoming tensions.
- Adapting to new situations.
- Facing conflicts,
- Let's have fun.
- Think positively.
Furthermore, the use of humor has been recognized as an important survival mechanism. It allows us to momentarily experience "self-forgetfulness," an act of detachment that allows us to release and dissolve our tensions, sadness, anxieties, or fears. And if that weren't enough, laughing with others deactivates internal mechanisms of prejudice and brings people together in the same shared space.
Embracing your inner clown will often bring out the best in you: you'll become more resourceful, curious, and joyful. And experiencing all these inherent qualities will be revitalizing; it will help you connect with yourself , others, and life with appreciation and compassion.
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