Bringing Laughter and Light to Law Enforcement
This week, in Finding the Unicorn in You, Dr. Jaime G. Raygoza interviewed Mari Maldonado, a law enforcement supervisor with 28 years of experience who discovered the transformative power of laughter yoga. Mari's journey from school resource officer to laughter yoga advocate offers valuable insights into stress management, personal growth, and the importance of pursuing passions at any age.
Laughter Yoga: A Tool for Positivity in Law Enforcement
Mari's journey with laughter yoga began in 2006 when she was working as a school resource officer. She found it to be an effective tool for helping students in difficult situations that traditional law enforcement methods couldn't address. Recognizing the high stress levels and prevalent negativity in police culture, Mari began incorporating laughter yoga into roll calls and workplace interactions.
Combating Stress and Promoting Well-being
With eight years of experience in special victims units, Mari witnessed firsthand the toll that law enforcement stress can take. She notes that officers, particularly men, often struggle with the transition to retirement due to maintained high stress levels, leading to concerning early mortality rates. Mari's mission to bring positivity to her fellow officers through laughter yoga addresses this critical issue.
A Journey of Personal Growth and Adventure
Mari's remarkable journey of personal growth includes:
Auditioning for Sesame Street at age 40
Skydiving in Hawaii
Climbing the Sydney Harbor Bridge
Attending the Olympics in Paris
Pursuing creative interests like puppetry
Entering an MFA program in creative writing
These experiences highlight Mari's commitment to staying active and engaged in life, modeling courage and passion for her 19-year-old son.
Key Themes for Personal Growth and Well-being
Throughout the interview, Mari emphasizes several important principles:
Taking small steps toward larger goals
Managing stress through creative pursuits
Setting healthy work-life boundaries
Using fear appropriately - letting it protect you without preventing growth
Maintaining work-life balance and pursuing personal passions alongside career duties
Advocating for Mental Health and Continuous Growth
Mari strongly advocates for mental health support, acknowledging that everyone experiences some form of childhood trauma that can manifest later in life. She emphasizes the importance of therapy and continuous personal growth throughout every decade of life.
Future Projects and Aspirations
Mari is currently developing a curriculum to incorporate laughter yoga into law enforcement training for stress management and resilience. Additionally, she's pursuing her dream of teaching puppetry workshops in inner-city areas to connect with Hispanic cultural traditions.
The Unicorn Lesson: Navigating Fear
Mari's unicorn lesson centers on the role of fear in our lives and how to navigate it effectively. Her key insights include:
Fear is normal and natural, especially in challenging situations.
Fear serves a protective function, keeping us safe when necessary.
The key is to acknowledge fear without letting it paralyze you from action.
Mari's unicorn lesson can be summarized as:
"Fear is there to keep you safe, but it shouldn't stop you from living. Acknowledge your fear, but don't let it prevent you from pursuing your goals, hopes, and dreams."
She emphasizes that fear often underlies our hesitation to try new things or pursue our aspirations. Whether it's building a giant puppet, going back to school, writing a book, or traveling abroad, fear can hold us back if we let it.
Mari encourages us to:
Recognize when fear is protecting us (e.g., intuition telling us not to enter a dangerous situation)
Identify when fear is unnecessarily limiting us from growth and new experiences
Push through fear to accomplish our goals and live fully
She shares personal examples, such as auditioning for Sesame Street despite being older than other applicants, to illustrate how embracing this philosophy has enriched her life.
Conclusion
Mari Maldonado's journey from law enforcement officer to laughter yoga advocate demonstrates the power of pursuing passions and prioritizing personal growth at any age. Her message to "find joy in the little things, and do the things that make you happy" serves as an inspiring reminder to embrace life's adventures and prioritize well-being. This unicorn lesson reminds us that while fear has its place in keeping us safe, it shouldn't be the driving force that prevents us from pursuing our passions and living authentically.
Don't miss our next episode of Finding the Unicorn in You for more inspiring stories and insights into personal growth and professional development!
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