Think about a time in the past when you said or did something embarrassing. Step outside yourself for a moment and imagine how silly it might have looked or sounded to an outside observer. If you’ve ever laughed at someone else for making a similar mistake, you should be able to see the humor in your own mistake.
Remind yourself that it’s okay to make mistakes. Everyone does from time to time. Accept that you’re just as prone to mistakes as everyone else. It’s what makes you human, and there’s nothing wrong with that. [2] X Research source
Consider the alternative to laughter. What good will getting angry or upset really do? If you’re able to correct your mistake, then try to do so. If not, try to realize that it’s just a mistake and that your best option is to laugh it off.
You’ve probably committed many mistakes throughout the course of your life. The reason you made it through okay was because you adjusted your expectations and accepted the outcome eventually. Did dwelling on your mistakes help the situation at all, or cause you more stress/frustration? Eventually you stopped stressing about a mistake you made. All that happened was that you learned to forgive yourself and stop dwelling on what you “should” have said or done. Why prolong the forgiveness process? Instead of torturing yourself for days, weeks, or months, just let go of what “should” have happened and forgive yourself for making an honest mistake.
If you let every instance of suffering or sadness in the world get to you, you would be an emotional mess all the time. Instead of taking on suffering, try to actively embrace the good things in life. Think about all the things you have to be grateful for in your own life. Try to also consider how many happy, fun memories you have, and focus on those good thoughts instead of the self-doubting or self-punishing thoughts.
Practice gratitude by showing sincere appreciation whenever someone helps you out, even in small ways. Focus on things that amuse you. Listen to stand-up comedy, read new and funny jokes, watch funny movies/TV shows, and do fun things that make you happy.
If you make a mistake and immediately joke about it, it won’t sting when other people laugh. They’ll be laughing at your joke instead of at your mistake. Laughing at yourself shifts the dynamic of any situation. When you decide to laugh/joke about your mistake, you hold all the situational power. Try saying something like, “Wow, I haven’t even had anything to drink!” if you trip or lose your balance. If you’re stumbling over your words during a presentation, laugh it off by saying, “Guess I could have used that second cup of coffee this morning. " Your joke doesn’t have to be all that clever, as long as you deliver it quickly and with a mild tone of self-deprecation.
If two people are in a conflict, do not make a joke about one of them. Similarly, if you’re in a conflict with someone else, don’t make a joke about that person. Try making fun of yourself, no matter how you’re related to the present conflict. This can help put everyone at ease and take focus away from the mounting tension. If two colleagues are arguing at work about whose project turned out better, for example, you might defuse the situation by making fun of your own abilities. Say something like, “Well both of your projects are way better than mine would be. You’d think I was born with two left hands on this assignment. "
Instead of letting yourself feel overwhelmed by everything going on in your life, try seeing the situation as something that can be joked about. Try imagining your stressful situation as the plot to a comedy show that you’re writing. You’ve been given the basic materials of the situation, and now it’s your job to find something funny in all of it. As you begin to see the humor in your situation, you should be able to break out of the mindset that your situation is dangerous or damaging. Instead, you’ll realize that you can manage this stress and get through the situation, even if it takes some work.
