Positively Funny: Stand-up Comedy infused with a dose of Positive Psychology

“Positively Funny” introduces elements of the science of positive psychology into stand-up comedy. You will laugh, leave happier than when you came in, and also be more fulfilled and looking forward to your future. This is a comedy show. The emphasis is on humor.

What is positive psychology?

The academic definition is the scientific study of what enables individuals and communities to flourish and thrive, focusing on positive attributes and strengths to increase mental well-being.

Positive psychology consists of techniques, methods and practices to improve your mental well-being. If you want more detail, with less of an academic focus, watch the video.

Two Champagne flutes 2/3 full of Champagne, with bubbles and a very colorful red and pink background

I don’t care if you see the glass as half-full or half-empty, because one important characteristic of drinking glasses is that they’re refillable.

Some clips from the debut of the show, presented at the University of Pennsylvania

Plastic Surgeon Story

In some ways stand-up comedy is an inherently negative art form, because it’s always making fun of someone or something. Sometimes, though a joke can be structured to be either positive or negative. For example, “I hate America because it’s racist” isn’t a joke. But “I love America… because it’s racist” can be a joke. 

Plastic Surgeon Story

The Batman Effect

#Batman effect #positivepsychology #psychology Shaun Eli #standupcomedy

Optimism
(The camera does not add 10 lbs.)

#optimist #optimism #positivepsychology Shaun Eli

Walking on Campus with a Professor

#standup #standupcomedy #standupcomedian #collegelife #campuslife Walking with a professor Shaun Eli

If you want to read my master’s thesis (which is technically called a capstone because, unlike a thesis, it doesn’t involve original scientific research), it’s here: Humor is a Positive Intervention

One homework assignment for my master’s degree in positive psychology at the University of Pennsylvania was to create a pitch for positive psychology to an organization. Most students oriented the pitch toward their employer. Being self-employed it seemed silly to pitch to myself. I mean, it’d be humorous, but I didn’t think I’d get a good grade for it.
My first thought was to pitch positive psychology to the five NYC mafia families, but I didn’t want to get criticized for not taking the assignment seriously. Although frankly I think that, were the mafia receptive, they would find benefits to applying positive psychology in their organization.
Instead I made a video to pitch positive psychology to the Trump Administration. After all, who needs positive psychology more than an administration that spends most of its time criticizing and complaining? My video was rated Exemplar and was passed around to all the teaching assistants*).

I had some free time before a show at a theatre in an artsy town in Vermont. The side of one building said “Before I die, I want to…” and there was chalk for people to fill in their responses.
I wrote “make a million people laugh.”
I think that’s a pretty noble goal.
Then I realized- I’ve already made millions of people laugh. I used to write jokes for late-night television, for shows with viewerships in the millions. And though I wasn’t the person on TV telling the jokes, I was certainly an integral part of the process.
I am sticking with that goal, but now my goal is to make a million people laugh with jokes I’m writing and performing. Live or on TV? At this point I don’t care.
Writing on a wall, Before I die I want to Make a million people laugh.
(my writing is in the third column, most of the way down, but it’s hard to read in the photo)

Summary/Conclusion

What is positive psychology? It’s the science of how to lead a more satisfying, fulfilling life. “Positively Funny” is stand-up comedian Shaun Eli’s one-man show that includes elements of positive psychology in a stand-up comedy show. Shaun holds a master’s degree in applied positive psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, where, after spending $77,000 on his education, he realized that he’s not stubborn, as he’d thought, he’s resilient!

* Technically they’re called Assistant Instructors; Teaching Assistants work with undergrads.