Being funny is not only completely safe, but it is even useful to free yourself from the burden of norms and comparisons. Positive psychologist Ilios Kotsu tells how to get rid of many fears and complexes.
Of course, positive comparisons inspire us or force us to improve ourselves. But they can also poison our lives and undermine self-respect if we focus on information and visual images in the press and social networks. In this case, we forget that before us is only a part of life, presented in a certain way. Research has shown that the more we tend to compare ourselves to others, the worse we feel.
An exercise
One of the best ways to free yourself from the burden of comparisons is to approach it consciously.1. The Greek philosophers of Antiquity suggested that their students take a walk in a crowded place with a dead fish on a leash in order to incur ridicule and move away from the gaze of others. The point is to expose yourself to ridicule—in a situation with no consequences and no risk—to free yourself from the fear of other people’s judgment. For example: stand under a sign with the name of the street and ask passers-by what it is called. If you’re body shy, you can go to a party and walk to the center of the dance floor making as ridiculous moves as possible. If you are afraid of not being smart enough, prepare a line that is completely inappropriate and live this situation from the inside … Be attentive to everything that you feel.
1 «Who compares and despairs?», Personality and Individual Differences, 2015, № 86.