10 Rules to Live By

Have you ever been curious, really curious, about the rules, traditions and dogmas you follow? Have you ever take time to analyze or think through some of the “rules” given to you by your school, your parents, your religion, your society? Do these rules work for you? Do they make you a better, kinder, happier human? Do they negatively affect others around you (who deserve as much happiness and peace as you do)?

I ask myself these questions regularly and come up with my own set of rules to live by based on my experiences and the curiosity that makes me ask others about their own. I truly believe that natural curiosity makes me a more compassionate and understanding member of the human species.

Here are the 10 ones I have been contemplating for the last few months and wanted to share them with you, in hopes they help you build your own. Enjoy!

Rule 1: All living creatures deserve happiness and safety

Rule 2: Take responsibility (for your actions, your thoughts, yourself)

Rule 3: See both sides of the argument before making a judgment call

Rule 4: Great achievements involve great risk, an a healthy dose of fear

Rule 5: Embrace your fear, not the other way around

Rule 6: Practice the 2-1 rule, listen twice as often as you talk  (two ears for one mouth)

Rule 7: Change is part of you, and it’s a darn good thing

Rule 8: If things don’t go your way, take a step off, regroup, re-plan and redo

Rule 9: Don’t hold anger for others in your soul. That anger only hurts you

Rule 10: Be a lifelong student. Every day, find a new lesson to enrich your life.