This week I’m starting my stand-up comedy classes. Yes, you read that right—stand-up comedy! I want to help people laugh, and at the same time, learn to laugh at myself. I truly believe that a lot of the problems we face come from taking ourselves too seriously, from expecting others to take us seriously all the time. Have you ever noticed how unpleasant it feels when someone doesn’t take you seriously? And what about when someone laughs at you? It feels awful, doesn’t it?
But the truth is, we can’t control how others see us. We can’t spend our lives saying, “Take me seriously, don’t laugh at me.” So, what if, instead of resisting, we join in the laughter? But not a laughter of mockery or disdain—one that’s playful and lighthearted. After all, we’re all playing in this school called life. We have two options: learn with a serious face or learn with laughter. I choose laughter. I like to laugh, so why not learn to laugh at the things that happen to me?
There are many things in my life I wish were different, and I could say the same for the lives of the people I love. But what if, while working to change those things, I also laugh along the way? While things improve, I’ll have enjoyed the process.
Laughter as a Tool for Growth
Learning to laugh at yourself is one of the most valuable lessons you can incorporate into your life. Life is full of opportunities to laugh—you just need to be open to seeing them and let your ego shrink just enough to realize how funny life really is.
I remember one time I was with a friend, telling her about an argument I had. Suddenly, as I was speaking, I realized how funny I sounded, and I burst into laughter. I started to see the situation from a different perspective, and my friend began laughing with me. Together, we laughed about what I had just shared, and then she remembered something similar she had done, and she started laughing too. We spent so much time sitting there, laughing at ourselves, our stories, and how serious we can sometimes be about situations that, in hindsight, are actually pretty funny.
A New Perspective: Life Is Funnier Than We Think
I invite you to take a look at your own story, right now. See it through the eyes of laughter, and you’ll realize that life is much funnier than you imagine. Don’t take it so seriously, because in the end, we’re all just passing through. Laughter not only helps us release tension, but it also offers us a new perspective—one that is light, fun, and full of possibilities.
So, why not start laughing more at ourselves? By doing so, we not only make life more bearable, but we also connect with others in a more authentic and human way. Because, in the end, we’re all here to learn—and what better way to do it than by laughing along the way?
Marcela Allen Herrera. Expert in Mindfulness and New Thought Philosophy.