There once was a man who stood before a crowd and cracked a funny joke. The room erupted with laughter. A few moments later, he told the exact same joke again. This time, the laughter was quieter—some smiled, some chuckled politely. Then, he told the same joke a third time. The room fell silent.

He looked around, smiled, and said something that struck a chord:

“If you can’t laugh at the same joke over and over, then why do you keep worrying about the same problem again and again?”

That simple moment held a powerful truth.

We Replay Worry on a Loop

It’s amazing how we humans can get stuck in mental loops. We stew over things we can’t control, rehearse past mistakes, and stress about imagined futures. But replaying the same worry doesn’t bring new insight—it just drains our energy and peace.

Laughter Moves On—So Should You

Laughter fades because the brain gets the message and moves on. Worry, on the other hand, tends to get stuck. But here’s the thing: just like the joke loses its punch, repeated worry loses its purpose. It no longer solves problems. It just clutters the mind.

Choose Reflection Over Repetition

Instead of worrying over the same thing for the tenth time, try asking yourself:

• What can I actually do about this?
• Who can I talk to for help or perspective?
• Is this still worth my mental real estate?

If the answer is no, maybe it’s time to let it go. Not because it’s easy, but because your peace of mind is worth protecting.

The Takeaway

Laughter teaches us to move on. Let that be your reminder: not every thought is worth replaying. Let go of what doesn’t serve you and make space for joy, progress, and new perspectives.

Because life is too short to tell yourself the same sad story again and again.