Table of contents:
- Is there any benefit to laughing at yourself?
- Laughing at yourself dilutes the social atmosphere
- Laughing at yourself is good for your physical health too
Laughter is an antidote to stress, pain, and even an antidote to conflict. There is no other reliable way to make the mind and body recover quickly when dealing with negative things. Laughter or humor is key. Laughter has many benefits. Not only laughing because there are funny things, laughing at yourself also turns out to be good for your health.
Previous research has found that laughing at yourself is seen as a negative effect of the pressure on a person. Laughing at yourself is usually associated with anxiety and low self-esteem. However, recent research in the journal Personality and Individual Differences proves otherwise.
Is there any benefit to laughing at yourself?
A study from the University of Granada in the journal Personality and Individual Differences shows that clinically, people who often joke about themselves or laugh at their own weaknesses, shortcomings, or mistakes as jokes are more psychologically prosperous.
These findings are controversial, contradicting previous research that suggested that people who like to use themselves as a joke signal negative psychological conditions.
Jorge Torres Marin, one of the researchers on the study, said that laughing at yourself is associated with high psychological well-being scores. This psychological well-being score can be a signal of happiness and good social skills.
Laughing at yourself works like the psychotherapy effect of improving overall mental health. Researchers consider that psychological well-being is an indicator of happiness, life satisfaction, and optimism about life. Therefore, laughing at oneself is considered good for mental health.
Laughing at yourself dilutes the social atmosphere
Laughing at yourself may not be easy, because you will feel ashamed to highlight your weaknesses and shortcomings. However, instead of feeling embarrassed, hiding your weaknesses or flaws in a reasonable joke can actually show that you are someone who can break the ice and reduce tension.
This sense of humor doesn't hurt either party either. In fact, it will make other people more open and comfortable with you.
Laughing at yourself is good for your physical health too
People who can laugh at themselves tend to have positive thoughts and are less prone to worry, so they are more prone to chronic stress.
Chronic stress or prolonged stress can lead to high production of natural stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. Overproduction of this hormone has been shown to be linked to increased mental and physical health problems.
Physical health problems that can occur such as headaches, heart disease, and digestive problems. Meanwhile, mental health problems that can occur such as anxiety and depression. Therefore, the ability to laugh at one's own weaknesses, mistakes, or shortcomings is considered healthy for body and soul.
