Laughing in the mirror

Have you ever had one of those days where you take two steps forward and three steps backward, multiple times, and still somehow manage to accomplish what you set out to do?

When you were living it, going through it, were you experiencing frustration, doubt, anger, confusion?

How did you react in the midst of it?

How did you respond in the moment?

How did you feel once you were past it?

I am sure I am not alone in acknowledging that those questions have intruded into my thoughts more than once. Both at work and at home, in experiences where no matter how hard I tried, things just did not go smoothly.

Let me share something from the past week and a half.

PlayWorks has a new office in downtown Lenoir and we wanted to add a table. Not just any table. A playful table.

After settling on a nice playful blue, all that remained was painting the one I found in the hay loft of the barn.

Sounds simple, right? I thought so too.

It started going sideways the moment I picked up the table top and realised it had been constructed with lead-filled wood. At least that is what it felt like. I lost my grip and it rolled down the stairs to the ground floor. Thankfully undamaged — which, given the weight of it, told me everything I needed to know.

I was frustrated. Starting to get a little angry.

I got it to the shop, up on sawhorses, and the painting went smoothly. Then it rained. The one day I left it outside to dry — it rained. We have not had a drop of rain since, and there is none in the forecast.

While it was drying, I picked up a book called Beautiful Oops by Barney Saltzberg. It is absolutely a children's book.

It is also one of the most inspirational things I have read in a long time. The core message is about turning mistakes into something beautiful. I recommend it wholeheartedly, and I believe it belongs on every leader's shelf.

But back to the table.

I had finally finished the top and was putting the final coat on the base. A nice playful blue. Feeling good. Ready to clean up and celebrate after the inauspicious start to the whole project.

At that very moment, as you might expect, I turned and knocked the paint can off the workbench.

A generous blob of blue paint spread across the floor.

And then a funny thing happened. An entirely unexpected thing, if I am honest.

There was no anger. No frustration. No negative emotion of any kind. In fact, it was quite the opposite. As I rushed to pick up the can and stop the spill, I was in a hurry for one reason only — I wanted to take a picture of it. I wanted to capture that paint blob and share it with others, asking just one question:

"What does this look like to you?"

The responses were amazing. Creative, imaginative, full of energy. And a small part of me smiled, already wondering what the next mistake might become.

So what was the difference?

Between laughing it off when the table top rolled down the stairs and laughing through it when the paint hit the floor?

Simply put, it was mindset.

Neuroscience tells us that laughing it off requires conscious thought. It is most often performed to manage a social dynamic or convey a sense of humor. Think of the last time you made a mistake and felt embarrassed that others noticed. That laughter was likely forced — an effort to maintain acceptance while you were still churning inside. There is a dopamine release, but a modest one, dampened by the effort of manufacturing it.

Laughing through it, on the other hand, is spontaneous and reflexive. Think of the first time you saw a cat chasing the rainbow a window cast on the floor. That kind of laughter produces a significantly larger dopamine release, and it lasts.

I have tried laughing it off many, many times throughout my life. I can say with certainty that laughing through it is better. It has a longer lasting positive impact, and in this instance it immediately transformed a spilt can of paint into something worth sharing.

Think back over the last few weeks of your life to a mistake that simply ruined your whole day, evening or event. What happened? How could you have seen that mistake as something beautiful? How might that have changed the experience — not just for you, but for everyone around you?

I recognize that this shift is not easy to make. I also know that not all mistakes carry the same weight — some have consequences that go far beyond personal frustration, and those deserve their own conversation.

But for the ones that don't? For the paint spills, the table tops that roll down the stairs, the plans that get rained on?

Play is the answer.

This is exactly why I built PlayWorks.

PlayWorks is a structured experiential learning community designed for adults who want consistent clarity and forward momentum. Through intentional play, movement-based learning, and guided reflection, members build creativity, communication skills, and practical next steps they can apply immediately.

It is not a seminar. It is not passive learning. PlayWorks begins by breaking patterns — using movement and playful interaction to wake up focus, lower resistance, and shift you out of your head. From there we engage, reflect, and you leave with a clear and grounded commitment that feels realistic and ready to move.

Step Inside PlayWorks →

Until next time,

The Tiger Is Inside You.

P.S. If this issue made you smile, forward it to someone who needs to laugh through something this week.

Quote of The Week:

"The human race has only one truly effective weapon, and that is laughter." — Mark Twain

That is the Tiger that I refer to and the idea of creating the metaphor for the Tiger came from Jim Lawless in his book, Taming Tigers.   

It’s fear and self-doubt dressed up as protection, convincing us to stay safe instead of stepping forward and growing. The Tiger is loud, convincing and relentless, but here’s the truth: it only has the power we give it.

Every time you step forward in spite of that roar, you weaken its grip and strengthen your own. That is what Tiger Letters are all about, sharing knowledge, experience, fears and inner strength to make your dreams a reality.

So, the next time your Tiger ROARS, smile at it, step forward reclaiming your power and break through the fear barrier into your growth zone.

Before you go, here is ONE way you can work with me.

Book your FREE Kickstart Call with me - 1:1 performance coaching to help you break through fear, self-doubt, and procrastination—so you can finally move forward with clarity, confidence, and courage.

Until next time!
The Tiger Is Inside You.