Rule #62

Rule #62

Rule #62 gets a lively workout here, as the RAW Recovery Podcast dives into why “recovery is serious business, but that doesn't mean we can't laugh along the way.” This episode centres on Tradition Four from the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions and the famous reminder: “Don't take yourself too damn seriously.” The host, Dion, brings a mix of humour, music references, and real-time interaction with viewers while unpacking the story of the over-ambitious AA group in “Middleton” that tried to build an all-in-one recovery centre.

How do people cope with the challenges of staying sober? With its 61 rules, multiple corporations and endless confusion, the project crashed and burned—leaving behind the now-classic Rule 62: “Don't take yourself too damn seriously.” You’ll hear Dion openly admit to nerves when going live, joke about delayed gratification, and laugh about doing “silly things” instead of calling himself stupid. That shift from self-attack to self-acceptance runs through the whole conversation.

He talks about ego (“the ego is not my amigo”), the tendency to make mountains out of molehills, and why being wrong doesn’t need to become a “character crisis”. There’s also a strong message about healthy boundaries: don’t call yourself names, or you’ll let others do the same. Instead, Dion suggests learning to say, “Well, that was silly,” correcting course, and moving on without shame.

He highlights the difference between gently laughing at yourself and tearing yourself down, and he links Rule 62 to practical ideas like pausing before reacting, dropping the need for the last word, and letting go of the urge to correct everyone. If you’ve ever taken yourself too seriously in recovery, this episode might nudge you to loosen your grip, laugh a little, and remember that being wrong is part of growing.

Where could Rule 62 make your day a bit lighter?