This is the chorus of perhaps the most successful song by Alanis Morrissette. And the whole text is about situations that simply should have been different…
"It's like rain on your wedding day."
Don't let it rain! This is usually a wish that a couple has when planning their big day. And when that happens - it's ironic! The discrepancy between what was expected and what is actually happening. Irony is a joke. It's the opposite outcome of what should be, or should have been. It's a moment of surprise that things are not going as we expected. An ironic view of the world will allow a strange combination of the positive and the negative, reverse and obverse, and perhaps the self-deception of things.
"Take your time, I have plenty of time."
We heard that piece of sarcasm from our parents every time we were late. "And now the World Champion is coming," the teacher always greeted the worst student in the class. At times, we may be the target of the irony of others. So that they can attack us secretly, make fun of and test us. The irony targeted at us is likely to surprise us. The best recipe is to accept it as if it were a 100% true statement. "And because you have enough time, I'm in no hurry”, and if the "World Champion" pays a simple tribute to the whole class, the teacher's original irony points are transferred to our account.
So, isn't it ironic?
Not everyone can think ironically. The irony is that not everyone understands irony. The ability to use irony comes with age. Young children not only do not notice your irony, but they cannot use it themselves. Irony also acts as a defence. Maybe it helps to alleviate the situation and its effects, and delay the feelings that might arise. So not everyone is capable of irony. A person who takes the world according to clearly established rules always relies on the fact that everything should be as planned. They never count on mistakes or changes, do not understand the irony, nor can they use it.
The ability of irony goes hand in hand with our ability to think critically, our work with emotions, and our ability to think creatively.
Irony is a sign of social maturity. To be ironic, we need to be emotionally intelligent. That means knowing your emotions, knowing emotions in different situations, and knowing emotions that are okay or may be threatening us. Only then can we play with them in a planned and safe way. Irony also acts as a defence. It may help to alleviate a situation, its effects and delay the feelings that might come. So not everyone is capable of irony. A person who takes the world according to clearly established rules always relies on the fact that everything should be as planned. They never count on mistakes or changes, do not understand irony, nor can they use it.
How to use irony well:
- Let's know our emotions
- Let's observe the situation
- Let's try to laugh like little kids
Irony is like mental and emotional training.
Irony, if we don't use it to attack and ridicule, can bring relief and fun. It allows you to use emotions that would normally not manifest themselves in a given situation. Because when we really need a knife and only have spoons, it's annoying! But when we turn to ironic thinking, we have the opportunity to laugh at the whole thing, find out how much of a relief it can be, and we even have a funny story for our friends!
Ironic people don't have to hurt us unless we let them. If we learn to think ironically, the world may open up to us in wider and more comic horizons than we could ever think of.
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