3.3 – The effects of laughter on self-esteem and self-confidence

Laughter is a fantastic tool for strengthening self-esteem and self-confidence. When we laugh, we reconnect with our joy of living, with our spontaneity, with our creativity. We let go of the gaze of others, of our fear of judgment, of our need for control. Laughter helps us to accept ourselves as we are, with our qualities and our imperfections. It’s a wonderful antidote to impostor syndrome and fear of failure.

By laughing, we also learn to not take ourselves too seriously, to downplay our mistakes and clumsiness. We realize that we have the right to be imperfect, that our little flaws are part of our humanity and our uniqueness. Laughter invites us to cultivate self-deprecation and humility, these great qualities of people who radiate confidence in themselves. As Charlie Chaplin said: “Life is a tragedy in close-up, but a comedy in long shot”.

Laughing in a group, as in laughter therapy workshops, further enhances self-esteem. By sharing our bursts of laughter, we create an authentic connection with others, based on mutual acceptance and benevolence. We experience being appreciated, valued, encouraged for who we are. We become aware of our positive impact on our surroundings, our ability to transmit joy and good mood. It’s a powerful boost for our confidence and our sense of personal worth.

Laughter also helps us to develop our audacity and our ability to step out of our comfort zone. Daring to laugh heartily in public, letting go in crazy exercises, improvising grimaces or jokes… All of this trains us to overcome our inhibitions, to assert ourselves, to take our place. Laughter is like a big “yes” to life, a surge of courage and confidence to dare to be fully ourselves.

Finally, cultivating our sense of humor helps us to develop our emotional and relational intelligence. By learning to use humour wisely, we become more skilled in defusing conflicts, in relaxing the atmosphere, in creating sympathy and complicity. We gain in social ease, in charisma, in leadership. Our ability to make others laugh strengthens our sense of competence and interpersonal effectiveness. It’s a precious asset for our fulfillment in all our relationships, personal and professional.

Thus, by integrating laughter into our life and cultivating our inner joy, we build step by step a rock-solid self-esteem and an unwavering self-confidence. We become the benevolent and inspiring leaders of our own life. As Mark Twain wisely summed up: “The man who doesn’t laugh hasn’t finished growing”. So, let’s continue to grow and shine, one burst of laughter at a time!

Key takeaways:

1. Laughter strengthens self-esteem and self-confidence by reconnecting us with our joy of living, our spontaneity and our creativity.

2. Laughter helps us accept ourselves as we are, with our qualities and imperfections, and to not take ourselves too seriously.

3. Self-deprecation and humility, cultivated through laughter, are great qualities of people who radiate confidence in themselves.

4. Laughing in a group creates an authentic connection based on mutual acceptance and benevolence, thereby reinforcing self-esteem.

5. Laughter develops our audacity and our ability to step out of our comfort zone by helping us to overcome our inhibitions and assert ourselves.

6. Cultivating our sense of humor enhances our emotional and relational intelligence, facilitating conflict management and enhancing our social ease, charisma and leadership.

7. By integrating laughter into our life and cultivating our inner joy, we build solid self-esteem and unwavering self-confidence.