Leveraging Laughter to Overcome Fear of Rejection | Pete Alexander | TEDxMidvale

[@emmittgriswald]

The concept of becoming your own loving parent is really wonderful. I've never thought of that as an option before

[@PatrickR21]

Wise words thoughtfully and humorously shared. Thank you for this.

[@professorpetealexander]

Thank you for your kind words!

[@donnadezert]

He is so correct in all this. There is no better tension release than laughter and having that playful attitude towards things is actually so beneficial for our mental health

[@professorpetealexander]

Thank you for your kind words! Laughter truly has been a game changer for me.

[@olgastata7262]

Thank you for sharing your story and for the great reminder about the power of positivity! 😊

[@professorpetealexander]

My pleasure - thank you for your kind words!

[@maureenbrown7065]

Becoming your own loving parent is some real wisdom... We all need that inner voice of compassion to counteract the negativity of societal pressures

[@professorpetealexander]

Absolutely! It’s so easy to get down on ourselves when instead we should be our own biggest cheerleader. Thank you for commenting and your kind words!

[@dakjussord821]

I have so much admiration for people like this who keep applying and don't take no for an answer. Like they know what they have is worth getting out there so they keep persisting.

[@professorpetealexander]

Thank you for your kind words! Yep, I figure you have to persevere if you know you have a message that people can benefit from from :)

[@adagunesesq]

Shoutout to him for laying it all out there, flaws and all. That vulnerability to share his struggles made his triumph over rejection that much realer.

[@professorpetealexander]

Thank you so much for your kind words!

[@adagunesesq]

@@professorpetealexander thank you for the wisdom! 🙌🏼

[@Arecee]

Thank you, Prof. Pete! Well said…cheers to living with more daily laughter! 👏⭐️🎉

[@professorpetealexander]

Thank you for your kind words! So glad you agree about the power of laughter :)

[@RobJohnsonJr]

Thank you Professor Pete ! Boy did I need a reminder about the healing benefits of laughter. Loved your TEDx presentation and look forward to following you and learning more about stress management and wellness. Bravo !! 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

[@professorpetealexander]

Thank you so much for your kind words and for the follow!

[@maryatkin3243]

I can totally relate to his experience with rejection. It's such a gut-wrenching feeling, but his perspective on using laughter to overcome it is super insightful.

[@professorpetealexander]

Thank you so much for your kind words!

[@GriffinTeam]

Great job Pete! Rejection is such a natural part of life and having some great tips to deal with it will really help!

[@professorpetealexander]

Thank you so much for your kind words Cameron! So glad it was helpful!

[@acciaisardino3470]

I love how he turned his struggles into something positive. Writing a bestselling book and becoming a laughter yoga teacher? That's awesome! It's inspiring to see someone use their pain to help others.

[@professorpetealexander]

Thank you so much for your kind words! I definitely want to give back in positive ways so that others can avoid my mistakes.

[@nadiaferchichi]

I appreciate the honesty in discussing the toxic effects of seeking validation from others. The way it can warp our sense of selves to the point where we're seeking praise for things that aren't even authentic to who we are... it's a slippery slope for sure.

[@professorpetealexander]

This is so true! I like to remind myself that I’m not going to be liked by everyone because I’m not pizza. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

[@leekotula7184]

Very true, laughter is the best medicine.

[@professorpetealexander]

So glad you agree!

[@michelleallen706]

I love the idea of becoming my own loving parent!

[@professorpetealexander]

It’s a powerful one!

[@giuliocecchinato]

His story about his father's expectations really made an impact on me. It's a tough journey to self-acceptance.

[@professorpetealexander]

Yes, it is amazing the influence (both positive and negative) our parents can have on us.

[@georgenotbest]

I can't believe you turned rejection into a 'fun game'! Your positive attitude is so commendable and your success very well-deserved.

[@professorpetealexander]

Thank you for your kind words! I actually stumbled upon laughing at the rejections as they piled up and it made a world of difference in my perseverance.

[@OurViableWorld]

It's sad how words from our childhood can impact us so deeply. Glad you found a way to heal and move forward.

[@professorpetealexander]

Thank you. I’m grateful that I forgave my Dad and we made amends before he passed.

[@jananobrega9793]

Thanks, Pete, enjoyed your message and presentation. Rejection is a hard subject for all of us and I like what you said about being your own parent going forward, especially if your parents were not ideal or have passed on.

[@professorpetealexander]

Thank you for your kind words Jana! And you are absolutely right about rejection :(

[@gemmaatterks]

The part about his dad's reaction to his improved grade broke my heart. It's crazy how those small moments can stick with us for so long. Definitely gonna be more mindful of how I react to my own kids' achievements.

[@professorpetealexander]

This memory was a good reminder for me also whenever my kids share a win they achieve. My only drawback is I sometimes go overboard with my praise because of what happened with my Dad.

[@gemmaatterks]

@@professorpetealexander I understand that.

[@the-real-fedora_the_explorer]

this talk had it all! funny stories, health insights, self-help gems for rejections... Kept me locked in the whole time.

[@professorpetealexander]

Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m so glad you enjoyed my talk!

[@yagoguinho6324]

I loved every second of this! Thank you Pete!

[@professorpetealexander]

My pleasure Yago - thank you for your wonderful help!

[@kathy-ward]

I thought he was oversharing those personal stories at first. But hearing how he flipped all those rejections into life-changing lessons ended up being really inspiring and I'm glad he shared them

[@professorpetealexander]

Thank you so much for your kind words!

[@ihavedeepfeelings]

Laughing off rejection feels so much better than dwelling on it. Definitely adopting this mindset.

[@professorpetealexander]

I’m so glad you like the idea!

[@SusanPifari]

Wow, a very heartfelt story and great advise on how to overcome stressful experiences. What a great and accessible life skill tool to use, laughter. I followed along with his short actionable demonstration on rejection then laughing it off & it really did make me feel lighter! Looking forward to following Pete and learning more. Thank you.

[@professorpetealexander]

Thank you for your kind words and I’m so glad the laughter exercise worked for you!

[@raphae-landres]

That laughter exercise actually lifted my mood a lil bit. He might be onto something with that magic.

[@professorpetealexander]

So glad the laughter activity helped! It’s been a game changer for me :)

[@beckettt]

I can't believe he ended up in the hospital because of stress. That's a wake-up call if I ever heard one. Gonna start taking my mental health more seriously after hearing this.

[@professorpetealexander]

I'm so glad this resonated with you - it's definitely important to make your mental health a priority.

[@lyndsayramster]

When he brought up perfectionism, I felt that in my soul. No wonder rejection gets me so bent out of shape

[@professorpetealexander]

Perfectionism is definitely a toxic habit that can adversely affect our health. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

[@1227Ronny]

Indeed , rejection creates stress and you start doubting your own superpowers, capabilities and strengths.. love the idea of universe giving signs, this is so true - when one door closes, another one always opens! Will be laughing out loud every rejection in the future- hope people around me will not doubt my mental wellbeing at this moment 😅😅😅 great Ted Talk! Thanks!

[@professorpetealexander]

So true that rejection can really bring us down. Thank you for sharing your wonderful perspective!

[@vivianpatgreen]

This is awesome! Laughter is the best medicine and if we can learn to laugh at ourselves - even in the hard times - I think it improves our overall mindset and attitude!

[@professorpetealexander]

Thank you for your kind words - and yes, laughter can be a superpower!

[@brandonfmathias]

89 freakin' TEDx rejections and you still kept your head up? That's some next-level perseverance right there.

[@professorpetealexander]

Thank you for your kind words! There were times where I thought about giving up, but I hoped people would benefit from my message so laughing at each rejection kept me going :)

[@EmmanuelLassalle]

😊😊😊😊aa😊aa😊a😊😊😊😊aa😊a😊😊😊a😊😊😊😊😊😊😊a😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊a1aaa😊😊😊😊😊😊àa😊a😊a😊😊😊aà😊à​@@professorpetealexander

[@13MYSTIX13]

I'm not someone who really opens themselves up for rejection... maybe that speaks to the lack of risks that I'm taking in my life but when something doesn't go my way I see that as a sign that it's not really for me anyway, and I think that aligns pretty well with what's being said here!

[@professorpetealexander]

True - you know yourself better than anyone and if it doesn’t feel right it’s best to listen to what your body is telling you :)

[@kashaiq]

his story about his dad hit me hard. I've been there, always trying to please my parents and never feeling good enough. It's comforting to know I'm not alone, and I'm inspired to work on becoming my own "loving parent" now.

[@professorpetealexander]

I’m so glad you could relate. Becoming my own loving parent was a game changer for me. I wish you the best in doing the same :)

[@maryfortman188]

Really great job. Glad you laughed and didn’t give up on the idea of a TED

[@professorpetealexander]

Thank you so much!

[@joonchang-coachyesyoucan3115]

Great job Prof! I will always laugh now Especially when I am under stress or got rejected or feeling down How can life ever be so bad when we have a heartbeat

[@professorpetealexander]

Thank you Joon!

[@IAmZictate]

The idea of reframing rejection as the universe giving us signals is interesting. I'm not usually into that kinda stuff, but it's a nice way to look at it

[@professorpetealexander]

Thank you for your kind words and yes, the universe has our back if we stay present in the moment :)

[@closeconnections8280]

Interesting perspective on rejection as a signal from the universe... It's a refreshing take on what's usually seen as a negative experience.

[@professorpetealexander]

I'm so glad you liked that perspective!

[@JessicaRobinson-zj8jc]

Enjoyed your talk very relatable! Laughter and humor have gotten me through some challenging times in my life, it is powerful medicine indeed.

[@professorpetealexander]

Thank you for your kind words! So glad you have found the power of laughter!

[@mateoolsert]

Big shoutout to him citing real medical research to back up the laughter benefits. Adds more credibility for sure.

[@professorpetealexander]

Thank you for the kind words! I’m a big believer in citing credible sources :)

[@mateoolsert]

@@professorpetealexander It helps so much!

[@TomPeracchio]

Smile more!! Laugh harder!!!

[@professorpetealexander]

It’s as simple as that :)

[@jaspernedivek]

Definitely needed to hear the message about self-love today, thank you.

[@professorpetealexander]

You’re very welcome - glad to help!

[@lanceabbott1994]

Laughter really is the best medicine! Never thought about using it to overcome rejection before. Thanks for the great tips!

[@professorpetealexander]

You are very welcome! Thank you for your kind words!

[@sergeymarushckin]

I really appreciate this philosophy!

[@professorpetealexander]

Thank you for your kind words!

[@HeyShelleDog]

Yes! A wonderful perspective 🎉

[@professorpetealexander]

Thank you for your kind words!

[@WillHarrisOfficial]

Excellent content. It was a pleasure to watch this.

[@professorpetealexander]

Thank you for watching and your kind words!

[@justinesaxenn]

I don't know if I could've handled a health crisis brought on by stress the way this guy did let alone write a book become a laughter coach. Pretty cool stuff

[@professorpetealexander]

Thank you for your kind words - I greatly appreciate you!

[@tylerweaver3882]

Great talk, very inspirational

[@professorpetealexander]

Thank you for your kind words!

[@PalomaLuzK]

Thanks for sharing solutions I can easily use as well! Finding conscious laughter in your class helped me accept myself more, adding a significant free & easy tool to quickly improve my life in the moment.

[@skyec8562]

I might give some of these things a try next time I'm feeling down about a rejection. Can't hurt to be a bit kinder to myself.

[@professorpetealexander]

Please do! Being kinder to ourselves also helps us to be kinder to others :)

[@marekdluzniak]

I think part of what makes rejection so tough is that we often have all this excitement for whatever it is we've gone for and when we get that "no" it's like... where does all of that enthusiasm go?? It's still inside us just without a tangible release so it just sits there and we all know what happens to emotions when they just sit around inside us...

[@professorpetealexander]

That’s an interesting perspective I hadn’t thought of before - thank you for sharing your insight!

[@earlbannicek5766]

Loved the suggestion to just laugh off rejection. It really is the best medicine so this is something I can get behind very easily!

[@professorpetealexander]

So glad you like the idea of laughter! It really has been a game changer for me and my laughter class students :)

[@QuackGal]

Wow, 89 rejections before getting accepted? That's some serious persistence! I'm gonna remember this next time I feel like giving up on my dreams. If this guy can keep going after all that, so can I

[@professorpetealexander]

Thank you so much for your kind words! Yes, don’t give up!

[@AJANOI]

Professor Pete, Thank you for this great talk. I love the idea of overcoming fear of rejection and how laughter can leverage that in a positive way. Looking at the rejection and then reacting with laughter, what a great perspective! Looking forward to many more of your talks in the future!

[@professorpetealexander]

Thank you so much for your kind words - I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

[@AJANOI]

@@professorpetealexander your story is something that needs to be heard. As in what your mind can do to your body and how stress through your mind can kill you, sometimes very slowly, if you are not consciously aware of the signals…

[@professorpetealexander]

@@AJANOI so very true. We really have to be mindful of the impact stress can have on our health, and prioritize our health over our career or other responsibilities.

[@mirfir]

You nailed it!

[@professorpetealexander]

Thank you for your kind words!

[@olanik2061]

The part about stress-induced diabetes really freaked me out. I'm always stressed and I had no idea it could have such serious health consequences. Definitely gonna look into some stress-reduction techniques after this.

[@professorpetealexander]

Yes, don’t trade your health for your career - it’s a very bad trade as stress can lead to cellular inflammation, which then can lead to chronic disease like diabetes as happened to me.

[@olanik2061]

@@professorpetealexander that's so sad to hear, and I appreciate the warning! You shouldn't trade your health for anything but it can be easy to not even realize that's what you're doing

[@professorpetealexander]

@@olanik2061that is very true. The best thing is to listen to your body - it will give you early warning signals that you should listen to like back and shoulder stiffness, sleep disorders, losing or gaining weight rapidly, frequent headaches, etc.

[@garydusing3123]

haha such a great story! thank you for sharing your journey of overcoming so many rejections and still finding laughter in life.

[@professorpetealexander]

The pleasure was all mine - thank you for your kind words!

[@IAmTheNeuroticSpy]

he came across a bit too extra at first. Then I realized he just has mad passion for this humor-coping thing and I can vibe with that!

[@professorpetealexander]

Thank you for your kind words! Yes, I am a huge believer in laughing to better help us cope :)

[@IAmTheNeuroticSpy]

@@professorpetealexander its the best medicine for sure

[@marekzagdanski]

This talk made me realize how much I let rejection affect my self-worth. It's just one person's opinion, right? Gonna try to remember that next time I get a no

[@robertlcbranson6834]

The forced laughter exercise felt silly at first, but I gotta admit, I did feel a bit better afterwards. Might try this at home when I'm feeling down. Who knows, maybe I'll become one of those people who laughs at everything!

[@professorpetealexander]

Most of the people who attend my laughter classes feel the same way at first. When we were kids we laughed at the silliest things, often 100 times a day. Unfortunately as adults we are lucky if we laugh or smile 5 times a day. But once you try it a few times it becomes more natural to laugh when something or someone frustrates you.

[@Bessmaster2000]

Nice job Pete, this is your buddy Aaron B.

[@professorpetealexander]

Thank you Aaron!

[@SpeckledDudess]

I never thought about how rejection could actually lower your IQ. That's kinda scary, but also makes sense. No wonder I feel so dvmb after a bad date! Gonna try to laugh it off next time instead of dwelling on it...

[@professorpetealexander]

Great idea - dwelling on it doesn’t serve you and laughing off a bad date will feel so much better :)

[@kathrynlthomas]

Yeah but I mean sometimes it's okay to feel the pain too. That way when we do get the thing we've been wanting for so long it feels even better.

[@professorpetealexander]

That’s a good point. It’s all about handling rejection in the way that works best for each of us.

[@Hrirhik7]

❤❤

[@professorpetealexander]

Thank you!

[@shureedouglas8682]

Why would they put a disclaimer on this???? Bizarre... good talk...

[@professorpetealexander]

Thank you for your kind words! I was surprised by the disclaimer as well, but that’s better than editing out my talk.

[@craigjohns7665]

The personal stories dragged a bit for me here and there...but his core messages about resilience and self-acceptance landed well

[@professorpetealexander]

Thank you for your kind words.

[@IAmTheCuddlyBeast]

Damn, I had no clue rejection could jack up your blood sugar so bad it causes diabetes? That health scare story shook me.

[@professorpetealexander]

It’s true. Constant stress causes cellular inflammation in the body, and cellular inflammation leads to chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, cancer, etc. It’s so important to properly handle negative stress - especially ruminating about the past and anxiety about the future.

[@banglaprobabygamer]

10:02 10:02 10:02 10:02

[@keylakreations4159]

why does this have a disclaimer????

[@professorpetealexander]

I was wondering that myself.

[@simonoshlor]

I had no idea rejection could impact our health...

[@professorpetealexander]

Yes - if we let the rejection continuously churn inside of us, it’s toxic to our health. Much better to release it.

[@tyronecaojr]

why a disclaimer on this - really???

[@professorpetealexander]

I totally agree with you. I guess a lawyer told them to do it.

[@Boss-1964]

I wonder what his TEDx talk would have been like if he hadn't have been rejected 89 times?

[@professorpetealexander]

Good question! After approximately 50 rejections, I debated about quitting altogether. Then it dawned on me that getting future rejections wouldn’t hurt as much if I was getting data from each rejection, and laughter was key to my mindset. My other topic ideas received the first 50 rejections - if one of those would have been accepted that would have been the focus of my talk.

[@freedomplace5239]

@@professorpetealexander as the king of rejection, you have given me hope, calling on the soldier for joy on the inside.

[@professorpetealexander]

@freedomplace5239 glad to give you hope to not let rejection win :)

[@joshauwidten]

I disagree with the idea of reframing rejection as the universe telling us to do something different. Sometimes rejection is just a result of circumstance, not a cosmic sign.

[@professorpetealexander]

Thank you for sharing your perspective. I agree with you that the circumstance plays a role. Dealing with the stress of rejection is a personal decision that requires choosing a technique that works best for each individual.

[@Hrirhik7]

You believe in Krishna he is never leave you