The Benefits of Rule No. 6: Don’t Take Yourself Too F@$king Seriously

Ever felt like life is weighing you down with stress and responsibilities? Maybe you’re taking things a bit too seriously. I’ve been there, and that’s why I swear by Rule No. 6: Don’t take yourself so seriously. It’s a funny little guideline with a huge impact.

Rule No. 6, made famous by The Art of Possibility by Benjamin and Rosamund Zander, is deceptively simple: “Don’t take yourself so F@$king seriously.”

The story behind it is about a stressed-out prime minister advising his team to follow Rule No. 6 when tensions rise. When asked about the other rules, his response?

"There aren’t any."

It’s a reminder that we often let ego, stress, and pressure cloud our thinking. Rule No. 6 helps us stay lighthearted, clear-headed, and open to possibilities.

It became so relevant to my life that I shared it widely—printing it on T-shirts during my time running the Bounce business in the U.S. The shirts were a hit, sparking conversations wherever we went.

People loved the humor and, of course, wanted to know what Rule No. 6 was all about.

For me, Rule No. 6 pops up in all sorts of situations. Whether it’s a missed putt on the golf course, my kids making fun of me for the latest dad joke fail, or when I lose my cool over something small like misplacing my keys, I remind myself to take a step back and laugh.

After all, life’s too short to be stuck in perfectionism.

And speaking of humor, after my over-45 soccer team lost four grand finals (yes, it stings), I sent everyone a Rule No. 6 T-shirt. It was the perfect way to lighten the mood and remind the team: life isn’t always about winning, but it’s a lot more fun when we can laugh along the way.

So, next time you’re caught up in stress, tension, or an embarrassing moment, give Rule No. 6 a try.

Take a breath, laugh at yourself, and remember that in the grand scheme of things, most of it really doesn’t matter as much as we think. Rule No. 6 might just be the mental reset button we all need.

What’s your Rule No. 6 moment?

I’d love to hear about a time you laughed at yourself or used humor to get through a tough situation. Drop your story in the comments, or share this post to spread the reminder: we could all use a little more lightness in our lives!

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Derek Marsham - Dan Stevens