HAVE A GOOD LAUGH!

Remember the day your dress was tucked into the back of your pants and no-one told you? For some people, life’s embarrassing moments replay on an agonising and never-ending loop, while others can shrug off their folly

– and even laugh at themselves!

And it turns out that our ability to laugh at ourselves is a telling marker of our self-esteem and emotional resilience, plus whether we have an optimistic personality.

Researchers tested this by showing people distorted pictures of themselves. While it was easy for them to laugh at the distorted images of others, the study found that the people who most freely laughed at their own images most likely had an upbeat personality and were also in a good mood.

Laughter, smiling and optimism are all linked to better overall health. As for learning to laugh at yourself, author of Laugh Your Way

to Grace, Susan Sparks, observed, “If you can laugh at yourself, you can forgive yourself.

If you can forgive yourself, you can forgive others.”