What are your “Rules For Life?”

[Topia]

I’ve got Jordan B Peterson’s book “12 Rules For Life,” & some resonate, others not so much. But it got me thinking - everyone has a set of rules they adhere to, whether subconsciously or consciously. What are your “Rules For Life?” Mine;

Simplify simplify simplify. Otherwise I get stressed & don’t enjoy what I’m doing.

Keep out of other people’s business as it doesn’t enrich your life to be nosey/interfering & others don’t appreciate a busybody.

Save money.

Sacrifice today for tomorrow - in other words work hard now, reap the benefits later.

Show your kids affection & love. Everything else comes second, or can right itself in time.

Own your decisions.

And lastly, don’t sacrifice real life for work. Work is important but it shouldn’t trump your happiness, or your desire to do the things that you will regret not doing when you’re older.

What about others?

Yeah so, I would like to withdraw my previous "don't be a dick" and replace it with this.
Cheese is life.

Live for today. Don't plan stuff for "when I retire" or "when the kids are older" etc. Happiness ain't at the end of the road: Happiness IS the road. If you can afford it and it won't dent your life, DO IT NOW.

I so so agree with this!

@IToldYouIWasFreaky

Yeah so, I would like to withdraw my previous "don't be a dick" and replace it with this. Cheese is life.

Feck. That was meant to quote @QuattroFormaggi "There is nothing that can't be improved by the addition of Reblochon"

Don’t be a dick.

For everything a reason.

Don’t give too much of yourself away

Don’t tell everyone everything

Don’t apologise for how you feel

Don’t talk about fight club

Your friends should make you feel good about yourself.

Say yes to invitations.

Apologies cost nothing and make people feel better.

Don't assume you can make it better tomorrow. Deal with it now.

Honesty is key to everything. Don't waste a minute on those that aren't.

Don't be flaky.

1: Always carry a book in your bag.
2: Know your boundaries and don't be afraid to assert yourself if someone tries to trample all over them.
3: Hug and tell your children and partner that you love them every day.
4: Tomorrow is not promised so do what you can today to live a life you'd happily look back on on your deathbed.
5: Don't bother saving things for best. Use the things you love, don't let them sit there gathering dust.
6: Listen to others, but equally don't waste time on people that don't listen to you. Some people are all transmit, no receive and these people aren't deserving of your time.
7: Treat people with respect.
8: Make time for yourself.
9: Donate to charity.

@paintedpanda

Don't argue with idiots.

Don't take criticism from someone you wouldn't go to for advice.

I like the criticism one very much. Thanks for that.

one of mine is: Problems Have Solutions.

@Topia

I’ve got Jordan B Peterson’s book “12 Rules For Life,” & some resonate, others not so much. But it got me thinking - everyone has a set of rules they adhere to, whether subconsciously or consciously. What are your “Rules For Life?” Mine;

Simplify simplify simplify. Otherwise I get stressed & don’t enjoy what I’m doing.

Keep out of other people’s business as it doesn’t enrich your life to be nosey/interfering & others don’t appreciate a busybody.

Save money.

Sacrifice today for tomorrow - in other words work hard now, reap the benefits later.

Show your kids affection & love. Everything else comes second, or can right itself in time.

Own your decisions.

And lastly, don’t sacrifice real life for work. Work is important but it shouldn’t trump your happiness, or your desire to do the things that you will regret not doing when you’re older.

What about others?

Do whatever you like as long as you're honest, don't waste a day, just do it, be yourself, never sell out, it rains on the good as well as the bad and always look for the silver lining. Also work out a lot and eat well, its the gift that keeps on giving...

When having afternoon tea don’t go for the second scone… it’ll seem tempting but if you do you’ll be too full to have any of the top layer cakes.

Don’t say anything about anyone that you wouldn’t mind repeating straight to their face

No drama after 9pm, this is quiet time, tv, cuddles but no calls or other ‘work’,all that can wait.

Don’t give all of yourself in a romantic relationship, you need to hold back at least 30% that’s belongs to you only.

@Musmerian

Don’t take advice from a dangerous misogynist would be pretty high up on my agenda. He’s a pretty despicable human OP - perhaps you should research him further, also 5 and 9 contradict each other.

This

Sacrifice today for tomorrow
I do exactly the opposite! Enjoy today and don’t worry about tomorrow because you might not be here. Spend your money before the state can take it off you. People who saved all their lives are paying £2k to sit in a nursing home next to people who blew their cash on having fun and are paying absolutely nothing for the exact same care.

Don’t tell everyone everything
Honestly I live my life by this. You are a deep ocean of secrets and some things belong only to you. Keep your private life private. Sometimes I think people forget invisibility is a superpower.

Don't be late. Others peoples time is just as important as yours

Have morals, and stick to them

@Marchingredsoldiers

never invade Russia in the winter

I love that. It reminds me of my first lecture in my chemistry degree. Tin changes structure at a certain temperature below zero to become a powder. Tin buttons holding uniforms together disintergrate in the russian winter.

Best comment by far!!

Do the right thing at the right time.

Never have life rules that sound like a bad inspirational quote.

For those wondering about Jordan Peterson's views, this is from the wikipedia page about him en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_Peterson :

'Peterson has argued that there is an ongoing "crisis of masculinity" and "backlash against masculinity" in which the "masculine spirit is under assault."[9][165][166][167] He has argued that the left characterises the existing societal hierarchy as an "oppressive patriarchy" but "don't want to admit that the current hierarchy might be predicated on competence."[9] He has said men without partners are likely to become violent, and has noted that male violence is reduced in societies in which monogamy is a social norm.[9][165] He has attributed the rise of Donald Trump and far-right European politicians to what he says is a negative reaction to a push to "feminize" men, saying "If men are pushed too hard to feminize they will become more and more interested in harsh, fascist political ideology."[168] He attracted considerable attention over a 2018 Channel 4 interview in which he clashed with interviewer Cathy Newman on the topic of the gender pay gap.[169][170] He disputed the contention that the disparity was solely due to sexual discrimination.[170][171][172]

Peterson holds the view that the concept of cosmic "order" is masculine, while "chaos" is characterised as feminine. He believes that these traits exist inherently and beyond any temporal constraints, not as results of societal or cultural structures.[citation needed] To Peterson, "culture" is "symbolically, archetypally, mythically male," while "chaos — the unknown — is symbolically associated with the feminine." He has expressed that while it may be considered "unfortunate" that this is the case, any attempt to change or subvert these traits would result in a loss of humanity, saying, "You know you can say, 'Well isn't it unfortunate that chaos is represented by the feminine' — well, it might be unfortunate, but it doesn't matter because that is how it's represented. [...] And there are reasons for it. You can't change it. It's not possible. This is underneath everything. If you change those basic categories, people wouldn't be human anymore. [...] We wouldn't be able to talk to these new creatures."[173][174]'

@Helocariad

You’ve selectively chosen quotes to fit your agenda. He is actually very supportive of women; he’s also said “husbands - never turn your wife into a maid,” and he acknowledges the weakness of men to turn readily towards violence & anger. Some of what you’ve quoted above could be seen to represent a open dialogue of male failings.

I think he is also talking about the inherent natural differences between men/women here in terms of their biological programming. Hence the comments about not being able to change that; as certain traits between the sexes do exist and are played out in their behaviour

Look closely at what he’s saying re; Trump. It’s a confession of male weakness when pushed out of their comfort zones to feminize. He’s saying men can’t do it; and their default response is harsh fascism.

Also - I agree with him on this point. Men are being asked to feminize more & more & it’s not an expectation 99% of them can meet, or uphold. That’s not to say men can’t be as emotionally mature & aware as women; he’s simply acknowledging the fundamental biological differences between the two sexes & the disastrous result of trying to change that programming. It’s not sexist - he’s being truthful.

Sorry to derail the thread in my earlier post.
I've thought of another few Rules for Life:

Have a plan but don't be rigid. Be prepared to be flexible.
Be compassionate but don't suffer fools and time wasters
Be a good listener.
Own your mistakes and apologise for them.

You don't need to forgive but it's good to be able to let go.