“A sense of humor is just common sense, dancing,” said American psychologist and philosopher William James.

Whether you agree or not, research from Northwestern University suggests humor can lead to creative insight. Benedict Carey, a science reporter for The New York Times, profiled the work of Northwestern neuroscientists. “In their humor study,” Carey writes, “Dr. Beeman and Dr. Subramaniam had college students solve word-association puzzles after watching a short video of a stand-up routine by Robin Williams. The students solved more of the puzzles over all, and significantly more by sudden insight, compared with when they’d seen a scary or boring video beforehand.”

If that’s not an excuse to watch a funny Robin Williams clip, I don’t know what is. Don’t worry. I’ve scoured countless pages on the World Wide Web to bring you this—Williams goofing on Wall Street corruption with Charlie Rose: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuFnzNsz3sc (Heads up: Later in the clip Williams roasts George W. Bush.)

When our minds relax, they are better able to solve puzzles. This fact points to the larger reality that when we step away, when we retreat, when we allow ourselves to dream and ask “What if?” new possibilities emerge. The taut strings of stress and concentration unravel, and the pieces of our minds are free to fall into place.

In many ways William James gets it right: this is just common sense. So why don’t we do it? Why don’t we take more time to laugh and let our minds rest? I can think of several reasons. We are afraid:

• others will think we are slackers
• we won’t get all our work done
• we will lose the trust of those around us
• we will lose out to our competition
• we will let others down

But why aren’t we afraid of:

• burning out
• getting all the wrong work done
• losing perspective and therefore being unable to lead
• moving in the wrong direction and losing out to the competition that way
• failing to set a good example

• neglecting our families
• high blood pressure
• being a bore
• being less creative than we can be

Suffice to say, I think we have much more to lose in being serious all the time than in letting loose, stepping back, and laughing once in a while.

When was last time you had a really good belly laugh? Well, I can’t promise anything, but these links are a good place to start! Enjoy.

Funny commercial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dXGj_-orxw

Calvin & Hobbes: http://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/2012/08/19

Louis CK on Conan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r1CZTLk-Gk

Cosby on dentists: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBqY6cJD3CE&feature=related