Why It’s Incredibly Important to Learn to Laugh at Yourself

Most of us know from experience that having a sense of humour about things can make life a little easier, and there’s a science to back that up: being able to laugh at yourself may be a sign of an optimistic personality and a sense of humour, and it might even improve your mood. Humour has also been identified as a possible factor in the development of personal resilience. ‘If you can laugh at yourself, you can forgive yourself,’ says Susan Sparks, author of the book Laugh Your Way to Grace. ‘If you can forgive yourself, you can forgive others.’ These three people prove that the best way to deal with many of life’s challenges is to simply laugh at yourself.

Bill Clinton: Bill Clinton has had his fair share of health challenges. The former McDonald’s-loving president struggled with heart disease and underwent quadruple-bypass surgery in 2004, but he’s still been able to maintain a sense of humour about his health. When asked about his favourite cocktail at a 2010 Gridiron Club dinner, Clinton responded, ‘Nowadays, my favourite cocktail is Lipitor on the rocks.’ He was clearly referring to the widely prescribed cholesterol-lowering medicine.

Madonna: In her long and legendary career, Madonna has made her share of mistakes and received plenty of criticism. However, one of her secrets to longevity in the limelight — she has, after all, been in show business for more than 30 years — might just be her ability to take it all in stride and just keep going. ‘I laugh at myself,’ Madonna once said. ‘I don’t take myself completely seriously. I think that’s another quality that people have to hold on to. You have to laugh, especially at yourself.’

Jennifer Lawrence: J-Law may just be the queen of making fun of herself, and she’s beloved for precisely that quality. Upon being asked about her dancing skills, she said, ‘I'm a horrible dancer. When I dance, I look like a dad at a prom,’ she said. Her ultimate moment of self-mockery was at the Oscars in 2013. When the Silver Linings Playbook star tripped on the way up to receive her Oscar for Best Actress and then made fun of herself in her acceptance speech. She won over the audience. ‘You guys are just standing up because I fell and it’s embarrassing, but thank you,’ Lawrence laughed during her speech. When later asked what was going through her mind when she tripped, she joked, ‘A bad word that I can’t say.’