Laughing at Yourself: The Best Free Therapy for the Soul and Mind
Learning to laugh at yourself can be one of the healthiest habits you develop. Most people struggle when others make jokes at their expense. But here’s the truth: when you own the joke, you disarm the insult. Laughing at yourself not only lifts your mood—it frees you from taking every rude remark personally.
I once had a friend who constantly made fun of me. She’d say things like, “Why are you eating that cake? You’re too fat!”
Some people might have been crushed by that comment. Me? I took a bite of my apple pie and laughed. Why? Because I’ve learned not to give others power over my happiness.
Humor Is Healing
One time we were traveling to the islands for vacation. As always, I was early and had just come back from grabbing a Snickers bar at the airport coffee shop. As I walked up, I overheard my friend asking the check-in lady, “Have you seen my friend? She’s the biggest one here.”
What did I do? I just laughed. You can’t change some people’s obnoxious habits, but you can choose your response. My best friend roasts everyone, but when the tables turn and she’s the target, she’s ready to fight. Ironically, she can’t take a joke.
Why Laughing at Yourself Is Good for You
As the great writer Fyodor Dostoyevsky once said:
“If you wish to glimpse inside a human soul… you will get better results if you just watch him laugh. If he laughs well, he’s a good man.”
Being able to laugh at yourself is a sign of emotional strength and humility. It shows you’re secure enough not to take life—or yourself—too seriously. A healthy sense of humor makes you more approachable, more resilient, and a lot more fun to be around.
Laughter Reduces Stress and Builds Confidence
People who can’t laugh at themselves often carry their problems on their face, and it makes socializing feel heavy. But those who can crack a joke about their flaws? They’re magnetic. They radiate positivity and authenticity.
As someone once said:
“The only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it. You either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh—crying gives me a headache.”
In Summary: Learn to Laugh, and You’ll Learn to Live Freely
So the next time someone pokes fun at you, take the high road and laugh—especially if it’s about something you already embrace.
Because when you can laugh at yourself, no one else can laugh at you without you first having the last laugh.
Its good to have a sense of humor especially when we are face with insensitive people. …it shows how strong you are even if your friend was doing this as a joke or trying to hurt you, the laughter was on her.
Maxine Laughing is my medicine….to always having a good day.