Case #3: This past weekend, I was speaking at a church in the Kansas City area. I was using a handheld mic. I was thirsty, so I grabbed a water bottle with the other hand and took a quick drink. For some reason, I put the mic down to adjust my notes and then started back up with the talk. After about 30 seconds, I looked down and I was using the water bottle as my microphone. I was talking into a water bottle like it was a microphone. The audience burst out in laughter and all I could do was smile and join them.
Hopefully, you haven’t done too many funny and embarrassing things like this that have caused people to laugh at you. But if and when you do, laugh with them. Don’t be so serious that you can’t laugh at yourself.
Laughing at Yourself Helps You Stay Humble.
When it comes to ministry, most of us tend to get intense…ready to save the world…focused on our mission. It’s great to be focused. But not to the point where you can’t laugh with people when you make a funny mistake.
Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall. (Proverbs 18:24)
Don’t let pride and arrogance take you down. Walk humbly and don’t take yourself so seriously.
Laughing at Yourself Can Help You Deal With Criticism.
Instead of getting defensive and uptight, laugh at yourself. This can help remove the sting of an insult and lets people know you are a balanced, mature leader that can handle criticism. Laughter also has a way of diffusing intense situations you many find yourself in.
Laugh at Yourself but Don’t Let Your Inner Critic Dominate You.
All of us have an inner critic. It’s that negative voice that tells you that you’re not qualified, that you will fail and that you are not a good leader. Stop being your own worst critic. Be confident, but not cocky.
Don’t Be So “Super Spiritual” That You Can’t Laugh at Yourself.
I don’t see any time in scripture where the Pharisees laughed. They were too pious for that. They were too “spiritual” to laugh.
But the picture of Jesus that we find in the Gospels is one of a well-rounded, magnetic personality. He carried children in His arms. He was accused of being too joyful on occasion (Luke 7:34). He told John’s disciples it was not a time for sadness (Matthew 9:15).
Why so serious?
This article originally appeared here and is used by permission.
