Quote:
Originally Posted by SmartAlx  I know that this is a self improvement forum, but sometimes I think it's a DON'T improve yourself forum with the answers I see all the time. You all should be more careful about the advice that you give. Many people will be inclined to take your advice at face value. Many people don't know how to read between the lines. |
I suspect the many who can't read between the lines don't hang around here much, if indeed they show up at all. So please relax about the advice "we all" give.
Can I ask you something though? Do you actually "try" to be funny, or "try" to have conversations? I'm guessing you mean you make an effort, when you aren't feeling especially conversational.
Forget funny. If you don't feel funny, then you don't feel funny. You're not required to make anyone laugh. If on the other hand you find yourself light-hearted on occassion and something amuses you, likely an observation or comment on it will make others smile.
I don't consider myself a funny person, though I occasionally say things facetiously, and find people laughing. Recently I sent an email to someone. I heard later that he read it out loud to the people he was with and they all laughed---people who have never met me think I'm funny, and I wasn't making a joke. I was just excited about something and it came through in my writing. It occurred to me that maybe they were laughing AT me and they don't think I'm funny, they think I'm roll-your-eyes-ridiculous. If I was feeling bad about myself, I could be pretty hurt or embarrassed right now. (Generally, it surprises mewhen I hear people laugh at something I say or do...well those over, you know, 5 or 6 years old.)
I've known curmudgeons---people who say what they think, have a fairly negative and cynical outlook, and don't necessarily make anyone laugh. They aren't jerks. They're intelligent and very interesting (the ones I know, I mean). You say you have friends, so you know, what's your problem actually?
Are you actually questioning the meaning of "accept yourself" or "love yourself"? I believe what that really means is to acknowledge that you are a good person, even if some of your personality traits aren't acceptable. It's that whole "you aren't a bad person, it's what you do that is bad" concept. When you learn that---"accept" that---then you can work to change what you do that is unacceptable.