Laughter is a great litmus test for the human spirit.
Watch what people laugh at, and how they do it. It will tell you more about their soul than any long conversation or psychological evalutaion.
Those who laugh at everything have no standards or discernment. They have no spine.
Those who laugh at nothing lack joy and take themselves way too seriously. They have no heart.
We as humans tend to be sad about the same things. A death in the family or the loss of a job.
But what people find funny and amusing can be a great revealer.
I used to work alongside a grotesque, cynical male who would never laugh at harmless jokes or anything good-natured. He always had a twisted look of pain on his face.
The only times I ever saw him smile were when someone made a mistake or slipped up.
If a coworker missed a delivery or spilled a drink, he would cackle loudly and overly long.
He would only talk negatively about others when they weren’t there to defend themselves, and would spread rumors at every opportunity.
It didn’t shock me to eventually discover he had no close friends and lived alone with several cats.
Open displays of Schadenfreude is an obvious sign that someone is disturbed and likely compromised by Evil forces. We have to pray for them.
But there is a more devious phenomenon to look out for: Fake laughter.
Fake laughter is a different kind of spiritual malady.
It is a hollow attempt at appeasing others and blending in.
Don’t be stingy with your laughter, but don’t manufacture it out of thin air just to show that you are compliant to authority.
Don’t pretend to laugh as a way to agree with someone’s opinions.
That is the sign of a weak and broken spirit. As Spiritual Warriors, we don’t behave this way.
Every Fake Laugh is a Lie
Authenticity is a key part of Spiritual Self-Defense. You cannot fend off evil and seek good if you are constantly posturing or trying to appear a certain way.
When you aren’t being authentic around other people, you are lying. Simple as that.
Every time you lie, or willingly obscure the truth, your spirit corrodes. You lose faith in God and in yourself.
You begin to doubt your own sense of direction in life. You will start to find ways to numb yourself and go down the road to Hell.
Fake laughter is a cop-out. It is a cheap substitute for a personality. You’ll notice the people who constantly fake-laugh also have no original humor or opinions. They will quote movies and shows, or recite bits of cable news monologues instead.
Some Machiavellians may argue that fake laughter has its place in the quest for power in the political realm. Perhaps you can squeeze out an extra drop of influence or status by doing this, but that will only be for the short term.
Other people fake laugh with the intention of building trust and breaking down barriers, but it almost always ends up doing the opposite.
Your goal should be finding a tribe of people that shares your values and who aim to improve the world.
By pretending to befriend someone by forcing laughter, you are only making it harder to accomplish this.
The problem for a lot of folks is that their spirits are so underdeveloped and malnourished, that any little bit of social approval is necessary to keep them afloat.
You must become accustomed to going without these false ego boosts and seek real spiritual fulfillment through strong, authentic connections and communication with God.
Be aware of the small ways that people lie to each other all the time, and how we lie to ourselves.
If we laugh at something that we don’t truly agree with or don’t find funny, we are doing ourselves harm. We are disconnecting with our spirits and creating a false identity that will surely demand more maintenance and energy to uphold in the future.
Just like criminals spin up webs of lies to keep their operations going, we do the same with our egos.
And we know how the story ends with the mob boss or the drug lord. It all falls apart.
By being more vigilant with how we direct our energy and ensuring the authenticity of our laughter, we better protect our spirits from degradation and create a stronger program of self-defense for the long haul.
True Peace is not Expressed with Laughter
You may notice that fake laughter is becoming more and more commonplace, especially in mainstream liberal society.
Just look at the way the androgynous, childless, city-dwelling couple talks about their dog, or their weekend spent eating takeout food and watching Netflix. Watch how they interact with others in their tribe.
Crooked smiles are fixed to their faces. They communicate with childish “quirks” from Disney movies and adult cartoons. Every other sentence is punctuated with fits of fake laughter, especially when they are in vulnerable positions (such as talking about the future).
With no chance of reproduction or uprising, these are the ideal citizens of the GUMBO New World Order. They can’t defend themselves and are completely reliant on the hard work of others to eat and have shelter.
Compare this to the stoic Father of four who works with his hands in the countryside and takes pride in his safe community.
He may crack a smile now and then, but he is rarely doubled over and slapping his knee at a punch-line.
He might occasionally rattle off a Dad-joke, but it isn’t to get approval from anybody. Just a mild way to self-amuse and maybe gently tease his family.
But while his exterior may be gruff and intimidating to some, he is filled with a sense of internal peace and power that will never be known to the Soy-Soaked Dog-Parent Couple living in the city.
Sure, the urbanites may be constantly surrounded with like-minded people who echo the same opinions, and pat each other on the back for their progressive politics. They post cute pics of their dogs on Instagram and enjoy social status at their hip workplace.
But their laughter tells a different story. It gives away their hollow spirit. Unlike the Father in the Country, they have no real love or meaning in their lives. Their spirits have been co-opted by corporate culture and groupthink.
I am not saying you have to pack up your apartment in the city and become a dairy farmer tomorrow. I am giving you a powerful tool to gauge someone’s level of spiritual strength, and helping you determine the type of person you want to be down the road.
Alternatives to Fake Laughter
I suggest you go a week without giving in to the fake laughter urge. You will have to fight it consciously at first, but it will soon feel natural, because it is our true nature.
Rather than forcing out a laugh at a bad joke, tell that person they shouldn’t be a comedian. Instead of giggling at a stupid story from your Boss, just nod and ask if there’s anything else they need with regard to work. After all, you’re there to work.
Don’t be cruel or Puritanical about your laughter, just try to reject the inclination to be a people-pleaser or fit in with the mob mentality.
By not fake-laughing for a week, you will notice other people start to respect you more. They will acknowledge that your time is valuable and they will be less likely to take advantage of you. Members of the opposite sex will find you more attractive. You will walk taller.
You may hear whispers of people calling you a jerk or saying you’ve become more cold. That’s fine. In fact, that means you’re doing well.
Take a look at how far you’ve come over the course of a week, and see how your life has improved. Notice how your spirit feels stronger and more vibrant than before. That’s because you are finally using it for good instead of evil.
Fake laughter is no joke. It is real and dangerous. Be aware and be authentic.
It is one step toward victory in the Spiritual War.
In Peace and Power,
CJ