Rule Number 6
Rule #6 is one of the fundamental rules of life…Do you know what it is? Have you read The Art of Possibility by Benjamin Zander? If not, you should!
Two prime ministers are sitting in a room discussing affairs of state. Suddenly a man burst in, apoplectic with fury, shouting and stamping and banging his fist on the desk. The resident prime minister admonishes him: “Peter,” he says, “kindly remember Rule Number 6,” whereupon Pater is instantly restored to complete calm, apologizes, and withdraws.
The politicians return to their conversation, only to be interrupted yet again twenty minutes later by a hysterical woman gesticulating wildly, her hair flying. Again the intruder is greeted with the words: “Marie, please remember Rule Number 6.” Complete calm descends once more and she too withdraws with a bow and an apology.
When the scene is repeated for the third time, the visiting prime minister addresses his colleague: “My dear friend, I’ve seen many things in my life, but never anything as remarkable as this. Would you be willing to share with me the secret of Rule Number 6?”
“Very simple,” replies the resident prime minister. “Rule Number 6 is ‘Don’t take yourself so g–damn seriously.”
“Ah,” says his visitor, “that is a fine rule.” After a moment of pondering, he inquires, “And what, may I ask are the other rules?”
“There aren’t any.”
(story told by Benjamin Zander in his book The Art of Possibility)
In a world of so much information, so much data, so many lists and priorities, it is nice to only have to remember one rule!
In other words, life is so much better and satisfying if you live it with as much transparency and sincerity and, above all, humor, as possible. And that you laugh at yourself…a lot! Actually, don’t laugh at yourself, laugh with yourself.
As Oscar Wilde said
Life is too important to be taken seriously.
