You probably know that laughing is good for your health and wellbeing. I love good, gentle humor - especially the kind that is self-deprecating because it's not done at someone else's expense. Dressing someone down in order to elevate yourself - look at that garish dress, haha - creates a win-lose situation. When you humor yourself on the other hand - oh, dear, hopefully stepping into that dog pile will bring me a whole bunch of good luck - nobody else gets emotionally hurt because you pointed out the irony in something you yourself did - then everyone can laugh freely and without guilt. It's a win-win.
Because I'm a bit serious by nature I have always admired people who can humor themselves, who don't take themselves too seriously. But as I'm maturing I'm getting a little better at it, more easily in writing, when I have some time to think about what to say, although I will never be a stand-up comic.
Self-deprecating humor doesn't offend anyone but the humorist, so it's safe and harmless. I heard someone say that it only works well if you're confident already. Then it can be put to good use - as a speaker to loosen up an audience, as a teacher to lighten the classroom atmosphere, as a boss in a meeting. Self-deprecation makes us human and approachable. How is your sense of humor?