| Take a look around. Does it seem like we’ve forgotten how to have fun?
Life is busy. Responsibilities pile up. Deadlines, commitments, and constant demands can make it easy to believe that being serious all the time is the price of success.
But somewhere along the way, many people lose something just as important—the ability to enjoy the journey.
As Aldous Huxley wisely observed:
“Never put off till tomorrow the fun you can have today.”
Fun isn’t about avoiding responsibility.
It’s about finding joy in the everyday moments that make life meaningful.
Andrew Carnegie understood this when he said:
“People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing.”
There are certainly moments that require seriousness. But if your life is completely absent of laughter, you’ll eventually notice it affecting your relationships, your energy, your health, and even your effectiveness.
So let me ask you a question.
If I asked your family, friends, or colleagues to describe your “Fun Factor,” what would they say?
Would they describe someone who enjoys life and helps others do the same?
Or would they say you’ve become so focused on getting things done that you’ve forgotten how to smile?
Fun Belongs Everywhere
Fun shouldn’t be reserved for vacations or weekends.
It belongs at work, at home, in your relationships, and in your hobbies.
At CRG, we’ve always believed you can work hard without taking yourself too seriously.
Several years ago, my team convinced me we’d experienced a catastrophic server failure and had lost critical company data. For a few very long minutes, I believed every word.
When they finally admitted it was an elaborate prank, I went from panic to laughter almost instantly.
Of course, I jokingly told them I was deducting the time they spent planning the prank from their pay!
Moments like that become part of an organization’s culture. Years later, people may forget meetings and projects, but they’ll remember the stories that made everyone laugh together.
Laughter builds connection, strengthens trust, and reminds us that work can be productive and enjoyable at the same time.
Fun Is Good for Your Health
Humor isn’t just enjoyable.
It’s healthy.
Norman Cousins famously described how laughter became part of his recovery from serious illness. Watching comedy films wasn’t simply entertainment—it became an important part of his healing journey.
Modern research continues to confirm what many of us have experienced firsthand. Laughter helps reduce stress hormones, releases endorphins, relaxes muscles, and contributes to emotional well-being.
Sometimes, the healthiest thing you can do is simply laugh.
I Had to Relearn This Lesson
Years ago, while building CRG, I realized I had become so focused on growing the business that I wasn’t intentionally making enough time for fun with my family.
That realization stopped me in my tracks.
It’s easy to convince ourselves that we’ll enjoy life after the next project, the next promotion, or the next milestone.
But life doesn’t work that way.
Our families don’t simply remember what we accomplished.
They remember how we made them feel.
They remember vacations, games, conversations around the dinner table, and the moments when we laughed until our sides hurt.
Success isn’t measured only by what you achieve.
It’s also measured by the memories you create and the relationships you build along the way.
When Stress Steals Your Joy
One of the first signs that stress is becoming unhealthy is often the loss of joy.
People stop laughing.
They become more irritable.
Everything feels like another obligation instead of an opportunity.
I’ve seen this pattern repeatedly through our Stress Indicator & Health Planner (SIHP). People are often surprised to discover how chronic stress gradually robs them of enthusiasm, creativity, and enjoyment long before it affects their physical health.
That’s one reason we created the Dying to Live eCourse—to help people recognize unhealthy stress patterns and develop practical strategies to restore balance, health, and enjoyment.
Because living on purpose should include living with joy.
Ten Ways to Increase Your Fun Factor
- Ask your closest friends whether you’re fun to be around—and be open to their honest feedback.
- Evaluate whether you’re having fun at work, at home, and during your leisure time. If not, identify what needs to change.
- Take life seriously—but don’t take yourself too seriously.
- Intentionally do something this week that makes you laugh.
- Spend more time with people who bring out your best.
- Schedule fun into your calendar. If it’s important, make time for it.
- Create experiences your family and friends will remember.
- If you’ve lost your sense of fun, recognize the impact it has on those around you and commit to making a change.
- Learn to laugh at yourself. Everyone else already does occasionally!
- Ask yourself one simple question: Am I actually enjoying the life I’m working so hard to build?
Live On Purpose—and Enjoy the Journey
Living with purpose doesn’t mean living without joy.
In fact, purpose and fun often go hand in hand.
One of the greatest reasons people lose their sense of joy is that they’re spending much of their lives doing work that doesn’t align with who they are. When your daily activities consistently conflict with your gifts, passions, values, and strengths, it’s difficult to look forward to Monday morning.
That doesn’t mean every day will be easy or every task will be enjoyable. Every meaningful role includes responsibilities we’d rather avoid. But when you know you’re living out your purpose, even the difficult days become more meaningful because they’re moving you toward something that truly matters.
That’s one reason we developed The Quest for Purpose. It helps individuals discover their unique gifts, interests, values, and calling so they can build a life that’s not only successful, but deeply meaningful. When people gain that clarity, they often rediscover something they thought they had lost—the joy of living with purpose.
Life was never meant to be merely endured.
It was meant to be lived—and enjoyed.
Dr. Ken’s Leadership Insight
One of the greatest indicators of a healthy life isn’t simply productivity—it’s joy. If you’ve become so busy building your future that you’ve stopped enjoying the present, it’s time to make a change. Discovering your purpose, managing your stress, and making room for laughter aren’t distractions from success—they’re essential ingredients of a life well lived.
If stress has stolen your joy, consider completing the Stress Indicator & Health Planner (SIHP) or exploring the Dying to Live eCourse. If you’ve lost your passion because you’re uncertain of your direction, The Quest for Purpose can help you discover the gifts, values, and calling that bring greater meaning—and greater joy—to both your work and your life.
The investment you make in your whole-person development will influence every person you lead and every life you touch. |
