I was reading a summary of the ’12 Rules of Life’ by Jordan Peterson and certain points resonated with me that I wanted to share to create an ‘excellent life’.
I have it on good advice his book is complex but provides a great deal of practical wisdom.
Each rule is quite simplistic in nature but a metaphor for the real point he is trying to make.
In my role as a branding authority coach, I find many of the clients I work with are looking outwards to gain self-confidence, and self-awareness, rather than focussing on the basics listed in these rules.
(This summary has been adapted from the Executive Lounge Conversations)
The Rules…
- Stand up straight with your shoulders back. Key takeaway…Life is a challenge and a burden to be faced with strength, vitality, and stoicism.
- Treat yourself like someone you are responsible for helping. Key takeaway...The kindest thing we can do for others is to be a true reflection of how we treat ourselves otherwise our reservoirs of energy can become quickly depleted.
- Make friends with people who want the best for you. Key takeaway...Know and understand what you want from your true friends and have the courage to part company when it is clear they are not within your immediate circle.
- Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today. Key takeaway…It is a journey of life that matters as much as, or more so than the destination. Focus on life being ‘better’ not ‘best.’
- Do not let your children do anything that makes you dislike them. Key takeaway...This is a call for conscientious parenting and not simply taking the low road with children because it’s easy, expedient, or less fractious than dealing with hard family issues head-on.
- Set your house in perfect order before you criticise the world. Key takeaway…the quote by Mahatma Gandhi ‘Be the change you wish to see in the world’ sums this rule up nicely.
- Pursue what is meaningful. Key takeaway…pursue what is meaningful and fulfilling in life.
- Tell the truth – or at least don’t lie. Key takeaway…if you perpetuate a lie, you will not discover new goals that could turn your life around.
- Assume the person you are listening to might know something you don’t. Key takeaway…every person we are listening to has something interesting to say that we can learn from if we just take the time to do that well, listen.
- Be precise in your speech. Key takeaway…knowing what we really want in life is never easy and is hindered by complexity and continuously shifting ground. However, we still need to strive for that with clarity and everything we express in words and deedsfrom that point on should be supportive.
- Do not bother children when they are skateboarding. Key takeaway…Let young people experience life on their own terms and have some fun as they navigate the complexities of life. In the background of course, parents and adults should support.
- Pet a cat when you encounter one on the street. Key takeaway…outward appearances may be deceiving. Resist the temptation to blindly accept stereotypes of people and behaviour without giving them the benefit of the doubt to allow the good below the surface to appear.
Practical wisdom to achieve an excellent life.
If you are struggling to gain clarity in your message and how you present your business to the market, the upcoming webinar – ‘5 Key Strategies to Build Your Personal Brand Authority & Engage More Value Clients’ on Monday, October 31.
I am Janeen Vosper. If you do want to talk with me any further then get in touch by booking a time with me on my website. Visit janeenvosper.com
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