"I think it's important to have a sense of humor about life. To be able to laugh at yourself and not take things too seriously"
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Humor acts as an internal shock absorber, softening the jolt of daily frustrations and restoring perspective when ego swells. Laughing at yourself isn’t self-negation; it’s self-acceptance with a wink. It acknowledges imperfection without shame, trading brittle pride for flexible humility. That flexibility is the real protection. When plans fail or criticism lands, a playful stance keeps identity from shattering and invites learning rather than defensiveness.
Not taking things too seriously does not advocate apathy. Rather, it’s a disciplined recalibration of importance. Seriousness is for values and commitments; solemnity needn’t govern every mishap, typo, or awkward conversation. Treating minor stumbles as comic material shrinks them to size and frees energy for what really matters. Paradoxically, a light touch often deepens courage: people risk more, create more, and apologize faster when mistakes aren’t treated as catastrophes.
There is also a social dimension. Self-directed humor signals psychological safety; it tells others you won’t weaponize their slips because you don’t weaponize your own. Teams that can chuckle at missteps iterate faster and bond more tightly. Friendships thicken when we share the blooper reel, not only the highlight reel.
The practice requires discernment. Gentle self-mockery heals; corrosive self-ridicule harms. The aim is to puncture pretension, not dignity. And some moments genuinely call for gravity, grief, injustice, danger. Humor, then, is a dial, not a switch: turn it up to defuse tension, down to honor pain.
Cultivate the habit with small rituals. Name your daily fiasco and frame it as a story you’d tell at dinner. Keep a “laugh log” to catch patterns. When the inner critic shouts, add a punchline and move on. Over time, you discover a sturdier poise: less vanity, more resilience, and a joy that survives the mess. It is a humane strategy for staying honest, hopeful, and delightfully human through everyday uncertainty.
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