How Laughing at Yourself Can Be Good for Your Well-Being | Psychology Today

Self-directed laughter helps maintain positive mental health during stressful times, diffuses a tense situation, and brings the focus back to what's more important.

Psychologists call laughing at oneself, “self-directed laughter” - having insight while still having a sense of self-acceptance. Laughing at yourself is good for your wellbeing if you can:

• look at your weaknesses & mistakes with compassion.
• laugh without putting yourself down. 
• see the funny side of embarassing situations.

Finding humor in our goof-ups and weirdness helps us take life less seriously & reduces stress. It promotes positive interpersonal interactions and relationships.

According to Harvard Gazette, 2008, J. K. Rowling was at Harvard University on June 5 that year. She began her address as the commencement speaker by saying, "The first thing I would like to say is ‘thank you.’ Not only has Harvard given me an extraordinary honor, but the weeks of fear and nausea I have endured at the thought of giving this commencement address have made me lose weight. A win-win situation!"