Having a good sense of humor makes you more enjoyable to be around.

You might alsodo better at work(as long asyou don’t go overboard).

Similarly, you’re free to refine your sense of humor by immersing yourself in humor.

Listen to podcasts that amuse you.

There’s a lot of funny out there!

For one thing, you might be able to actually copy the jokes and use them yourself.

Some people just steal their lines, and repeat them.

Others hunt out gold."

Even author Oscar Wilde was a parrot.

you might even see in some of his most famous works, there are lines that reappear.

So he was always honing and fine-tuning everything that he was doing.

And he was sort of known in society - he was sort of a Kardashian of his time.

But he went on to do works of great substance and lasting value.

Immersing yourself in humor will definitely help you parrot away.

However, if you want to evolve from parroting, don’t just memorize or recite jokes.

Pay attention to comedians' timing and delivery.

Notice their facial expressions and body language.

I didn’t even notice I was parroting his high-pitched voice until a friend pointed it out.

Sarcasm and stale jokes do have a certain funny appeal, but being witty goes beyond that.

Half the battle is accepting that you could learn it."

In other words, you’ll need toadopt a growth mindset.

The challenge of wit is in its spontaneity.

you might hone your wit by regularly quipping with other people.

Part of this real world exposure is in exposing yourself to the spontaneity that wit requires.

Silly humor can be a solid starting point for some audiences, but it can get old quickly.

A lot of people laughed at Borat, not with him.

(Plus, do you want to be known in the same context as Borat?)

On the flip side, even bad comedy and silliness has its fans.

We flatter friends or colleagues by praising a change they made.

We bring up topics that we know others might be interested in.

Instead, start with what amusesyou.

Then, if you think the other person will also be amused with it, share it with them.

That’s often deemed in the world of comedians to be the behavior of a hack.

You’ll be funniest whenyoufind something amusing and delightful.

That is the starting point, before you wonder about other people’s opinions.

This throw in of observation and restraint is a whole other can of worms.

Don’t let other people expect that of you.

When you catch yourselftryingto be funny, slow down.

Even if you’re parroting, slow down when you’re telling a joke.

It’s scary because you’re probably thinking, “Don’t mess up this punch line.

Don’t mess up this punch line.

Don’t mess up this punch line.”

Simply speak slower so you’re not as likely to stutter.

Try speaking at 60-70% of your usual rate.

Pause in between sentences.

Gauge feedback on your attempts.

As writerCarol Burnett says, “Comedy is tragedy plus time.”

It helps if the tragedy only affected you.

Be appropriate with subject matter.

Once you say something to the world, it’s out there.

If you find something amusing, ask yourselfwill it offend someone?

Is now an appropriate time to say it?

Sometimes, it’s not a fault with the story or joke.

Maybe it’s just not a good fit for the audience, or perhaps it’s poor timing.

Either way, if you feel the joke floundering, just let it die.

Better yet, just end it yourself.

Depending on the situation, you might be able to recover from it.

(reacting to meager applause) All right, all right.

That joke’s better than you acted.

Perhaps it’s not.

Maybe it’s dumb.

I hear you, man.

I’m not a fuckin', genius, for Christ’s sake, you know?

I’m just tryin' to tell some jokes.

Shit, who the fuck are you?

That track is number 14.

It’s called “Attitude.

You don’t need to seize every single opportunity to be funny.

If you’re in the middle of a bad joke, just end it.

In the long run, they’ll respect your taste.

Let the joke slip away into the abyss.

Illustration by Tina Mailhot-Roberge.

Photos byJeremy Cantelli,The U.S. Army,nosha,23am.com, andAlex Gaylon.