“Yes, And.” That cozy little phrase is one of the big rules of improvisational comedy. But it’s not just for the stage. It works very well when introduced into your professional and personal life. That goes for how it can be introduced for navigating PTSD or other mental health challenges you might face.
In a nutshell. The two-word rule is that comedians just say YES and take what is tossed out at them. AND they then go along with the stuff thrown their way. No judgment. Whatever idea is suggested by their partner or the audience is simply accepted—and expanded upon.
The improbable becomes the innovative. The ridiculous becomes the believable. Everything and anything goes. That’s what brings forth robust ROFLs in this highly adaptive art form.
I’ve got a super nifty story about an exhilarating journey. Demonstrating the power of this comedic rule and its zesty impact in my personal recovery from a trauma and the efforts to overcome PTSD.
I’m hopeful you’re able to use what I’m going to share as a muse to overcome any of your obstacles, hesitations, or traumas too. Or as inspiration to achieve something spectacular and stellar for you.
Overcoming obstacles
Gosh. It seemed it was just yesterday. A feisty, fun group of students at Grand Canyon University deemed me a kind of Jedi Knight in this peculiarly plucky subject matter.
They nominated me for, and I gave an impassioned TEDx talk. Based upon that formidable Yes, And approach to changing my life. After experiencing a brutal rape at the hands of three men.
I got the thumbs up, too, from half a dozen improv members of Phoenix’s Torch Theatre. When they randomly met me. Taking a shine to the use of their sacred foundational rule in my cross-continental odyssey to recover from the trauma.
An epic adventure
Curiously. As they all found out. An epic adventure that’s been guiding me (for 17,000 hours now) to become a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Yes. That improvisational wizard and alumnus of Chicago’s legendary Second City School.
On my travels across the U.S. and Mexico. I met people. Lots of them. Walking up to and engaging 32,092 complete strangers. Those folks provided an abundance of proof that boldly backs up this improv rule. And how it can positively be applied to a better life.
You see. Every one of those strangers I met. One by one. Over the past seven years. They all accepted the queer, seemingly pie-in-the-sky idea that some neurodivergent blue-collar guy talking about his rape would get on a wildly popular late-night comedy TV show.
And not only did they all accept my line of thinking. Every single one of them expanded upon my YES…that quirky Late Show idea. I have all of their creative AND’s written in 94 languages with 27 Sharpie marker colors on 494 giant foam boards. They all believe I’m going to really make this happen. Yea, to that!
Befriending this very rule of improvisation has taken me from being suicidal every day for months. To give inspirational presentations at 27 colleges. Throwing out the 1st pitch at an MLB game in front of 43,000 fans and testifying before a Senate Judiciary Committee.
Receiving a personal letter of gratitude in the mail from Pope Francis for my work. Being featured in an Emmy nominated documentary about determination. And lots of additional accomplishments that are changing much more than only my life.
All those tens of thousands of individuals have chosen to build upon my zippy idea instead of scoffing at it or trying to change it. Those folks simply decided to see where it all takes us. As the golden improv rule would have it be.
Because of that, they’ve each colorfully contributed and assisted me in creating a massive display of artwork. Four thousand square feet of massive. That’s already been featured in a variety of exhibits.
This all grabbed the attention of an ensemble of singers from America’s Got Talent fame. Those talented musicians are producing an uplifting song about my seven-year riveting adventure to reach that symbolic goal at 53rd and Broadway in NYC. Pretty cool!
You’ll need to watch the TEDx talk to more fully appreciate the significance of me getting on The Late Show. Or. You can just simply accept and expand upon my idea involving Stephen Colbert.
So. It’s all about you now. Nothing is too far-fetched or too absurd. What’s your YES gonna be? AND…go build upon it.
This comedy of errors is brought to you by that guy of spunky spontaneity. That laughing-out-loud guy is Ron Blake, and he’s able to take a joke at rblake5551@hotmail.com.
We hope you enjoyed reading Ron’s story about how he navigates PTSD and the efforts he takes to also overcome PTSD. If you would like to watch his TEDx talk, it is embedded below.
Do you have PTSD? Do you have ways you have learned to overcome PTSD or found ways to navigate your life? If you would like to and are comfortable, comment below.
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