How to Stop Taking Jokes Seriously

It's not always easy to turn the other cheek when people make jokes and this can lead to hurt feelings and even ruined friendships. Don't react in haste and take jokes so seriously. Instead, try to put the situation into perspective and take it easy.

Instructions

1. Look at the motives behind the joke. If the joker is saying offensive, derogatory or even prejudicial things, then you are probably right to take the joke seriously in the first place. If the material is just harmless remarks then the joker probably has no idea that you take the joke seriously and means no harm.

2. Join in the joke by making a witty comeback or laughing along. Including yourself and turning the tables, involves you in the joke instead of making you the "object" of the joke. If you demonstrate that you have a sense a humor as well, you won't be such an easy target and you'll have fun also.

3. Stand outside of the situation and be objective. If someone else related the story to you, consider whether you would take the joke so seriously. Take a few minutes and ask yourself whether you are blowing things out of proportion.

4. Think about how the joke really affects you. You may have initial feelings of hurt or anger but a harmless joke will usually not do any permanent damage to your personal or professional relationships. Put the joke into perspective by weighing up its importance against the other things in your life.

5. Remember that teasing is a sign of affection. The fact that you are hearing these jokes in person probably means that they are not intended in a malicious or negative way. When people don't like other people, they usually don't joke with them in a familiar way. Look around at everyone else and you'll realize that it isn't just you that gets jokes coming your way.