5 New-Age Lessons You Can Learn from Barney Fife and Other Sitcom Characters

Do you find yourself stressed due to outside pressure from people who want you to do more for them and on their terms?

Maybe it’s time to consider stepping away from the current expectations of others and listen to your heart and to metaphysicians.  They contend you are not on Earth to make other people happy.  Your job is to have fun and learn to find happiness within yourself as it is an inside job.

The holidays are major stress magnets.  This year the season may seem more stressful than those of yesteryear.  Some of you might even believe the best you can do this year is look inflation in the eyes and tell it you love it although your bank account will only get it through Tuesday.  Capitalists and profiteers don’t like to hear that.

You could stop trying to please others and take a New Age approach.  You can focus on the fun of doing what you came to Earth to do instead of focusing on obstacles that can be lame as well as limiting.  The metaphysicians might advise you not to focus on the past you can’t get back.  Ditto for the tomorrow that never comes unless it arrives as today.

But reviewing the past can be healthy.  It can remind you that everything is spiritual and is here for you.  You get to choose how to react.  Metaphysicians insist that if you want to change your conditions you need to change what you’re thinking and doing.  They would elaborate by explaining you can attract less stress and more joy by focusing on and engaging in fun.

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic conducted studies revealing the metaphysicians are correct.  A good giggle causes energy to wiggle and release endorphins, lower blood pressure and reduce stress.  But don’t take my word for it.  Check out what the Mayo Clinic research reveals by clicking here. 

For those of you who get sentimental during the holidays, allow me to take you back to simpler times so you can recall memories.  Specifically, let’s go back to the days of classic television sitcoms.  It was an era in which we sometimes shared black-and-white experiences featuring colorful characters who made us laugh week after week.  They helped us forget about daily stress while reminding us of things that matter.  They also provided excuses for capitalists to convince you to buy washing machines, dog food and dish soap.  Still, here are five spiritual lessons you can learn from quirky classic television sitcom characters.

#1 Seinfeld – It’s all about nothing.

“Seinfeld” gave us nine seasons of laughter through a premise featuring a standup comedian and how he gets his material from the small stuff that occurs in everyday life.  Midway through the show’s run, an episode involved Jerry Seinfeld’s friend, George Costanza, pitching the network a show about nothing.  Here’s a preview. 

This show highlighted daily frustrations during which people tended to transform little things into big deals.  The quirky characters interacted although each one usually was concerned only about his or her own agenda.

Analyzing the concept of “Seinfeld” being a show about nothing, I am reminded of the importance of letting stress go through the process of just being.  While self-absorbed, I believe the characters were on the right track.  By focusing on themselves, they reminded me that the only person I can change is me.  I am wasting my time trying to change other people.  The best I can do is set an example.

#2 I Love Lucy – About that Chocolate Factory

Ricky Ricardo and Fred Mertz ruffled some feathers when they brought up the issue of money.  They feared a possibility of lack of money due to their wives’ extravagant spending.  Lucy and Ethel decided to enter the workforce.  They took a metaphysical approach – sort of.  They believed in themselves.  They refused to allow others to make decisions for them.  Their philosophy was just do it and don’t listen to the word “no”.

But as Lucy and Ethel demonstrate in this clip, they were not qualified to work as assembly line candy wrappers.    Lucy and Ethel taught us, if you want to reap rewards, you must do the work.  You can’t always fake it until you make it.  This is especially true when you are seeking self-improvement.

#3  I dream of Jeannie – Don’t Live Your Life in a Bottle 

Jeanie lived in a bottle, but she would do anything to come out and help her master.  But not everyone has developed the power to change the world with a blink and/or a nod.  Plus a few of us don’t look that great revealing skin while wearing a crop top.

This show encouraged dreamers to dream big and refuse to bottle up their lives.  However, it is recommended you focus on living your dreams and stop chasing them.  Trust me, chasing dreams is hard work.  Those suckers run fast.

Sometimes people make excuses for abandoning dreams.  One of my favorite whoppers is life gets in the way.  I know I’m quite skilled at convincing life to distract me from my priorities.  Many of us set up roadblocks that allow dreams to slip away and our internal genies to dissipate into thin air and return to bottling up our potential.

#4 The Andy Griffith Show – Barney Fife Only Had One Bullet

While Barney’s job was to uphold the law, to serve and protect, he was only given one bullet for the safety of everyone – especially himself. 

Meanwhile, Andy led by example as the sheriff without a gun.  He reminded Barney that the deputy didn’t really need his gun or a single bullet.  Just stand behind the energy of the badge.  But for those of you who are focused on your passion, those of you who believe in shooting from the heart, you only need one bullet to hit your bull’s eye.

A bonus lesson learned from “The Andy Griffith Show” is few people can produce Southern-style vittles as flavorful as Aunt Bee’s.  While she cooked great comfort food, she was culinarily challenged in the canning and pickling department.  And speaking of getting pickled, Mayberry’s town drunk, Otis Campbell, also taught us lessons about life.

#5  The Andy Griffith Show – Even the Town Drunk Learns to Take Responsibility

Otis frequently went out on a bender.  He appeared to spend just as many nights in the county jail as he spent at home.  While he fit the demographics of a sot, Otis was a responsible drunk.  He coordinated his drinking hobby with releasing himself from the slammer in time to make it to choir practice.

Our hero was so dependable and responsible regarding his commitment to his community and himself, Andy issued Otis a key to the courthouse.  After spending the evening getting plastered, Otis staggered into the sheriff’s office, locked himself inside the cell and commenced to sober up. 

Meanwhile, sitcoms remain important  to our culture.  Sure, we laughed at Otis.  But we didn’t pass judgement on him.  Andy gave Otis the key to the courthouse.  Otis gave himself keys to the jail cell.  We gave him the keys to our hearts.