RULES OF LIFE
MARRY THE RIGHT PERSON
THIS ONE DECISION
WILL DETERMINE 90%
OF YOUR HAPPINESS
OR MISERY
WORK AT SOMETHING YOU ENJOY
AND THAT IS WORTHY OF YOUR
TIME AND TALENT
GIVE PEOPLE MORE THAN THEY EXPECT
AND DO IT CHEERFULLY
BECOME THE MOST POSITIVE
ENTHUSIASTIC PERSON YOU KNOW
BE FORGIVING OF YOURSELF AND OTHERS
BE GENOROUS
HAVE A GRATEFUL HEART
PERSISTANCE PERSISTENCE PERSISTENCE
DISCIPLINE YOURSELF TO SAVE MONEY
ON EVEN THE MOST MODEST SALARY
TREAT EVERYONE YOU MEET
LIKE YOU WANT TO BE TREATED
COMMIT YOURSELF
TO CONSTANT IMPROVEMENT
COMMIT YOURSELF TO QUAILITY
UNDERSTAND THAT HAPPINESS
IS NOT BASED ON POSSESSION
POWER OR PRESTIGE
BUT ON RELATIONSHIPS
WITH PEOPLE YOU LOVE AND RESPECT
BE LOYAL
BE A SELF STARTER
BE DECISIVE EVEN IF IT MEANS
YOULLL SOMETIMES BE WRONG
STOP BLAMING OTHERS
TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
FOR EVERY AREA OF YOUR LIFE
BE BOLD AND COURAGEOUS
WHEN YOU LOOK BACK ON YOUR LIFE
YOULL REGRET THE THINGS YOU DIDNT DO
MORE THAN THE THINGS YOU DID
TAKE GOOD CARE OF THOSE YOU LOVE
DONT DO ANYTHING THAT WOULDNT
MAKE YOUR MUM PROUD
cherie carter-scott's rules of life
(Carter Scott references this quotation:) "Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood." (Helen Keller)
Rule One - You will receive a body. Whether you love it or hate it, it's yours for life, so accept it. What counts is what's inside.
Rule Two - You will be presented with lessons. Life is a constant learning experience, which every day provides opportunities for you to learn more. These lessons specific to you, and learning them 'is the key to discovering and fulfilling the meaning and relevance of your own life'.
Rule Three - There are no mistakes, only lessons. Your development towards wisdom is a process of experimentation, trial and error, so it's inevitable things will not always go to plan or turn out how you'd want. Compassion is the remedy for harsh judgement - of ourselves and others. Forgiveness is not only divine - it's also 'the act of erasing an emotional debt'. Behaving ethically, with integrity, and with humour - especially the ability to laugh at yourself and your own mishaps - are central to the perspective that 'mistakes' are simply lessons we must learn.
Rule Four - The lesson is repeated until learned. Lessons repeat until learned. What manifest as problems and challenges, irritations and frustrations are more lessons - they will repeat until you see them as such and learn from them. Your own awareness and your ability to change are requisites of executing this rule. Also fundamental is the acceptance that you are not a victim of fate or circumstance - 'causality' must be acknowledged; that is to say: things happen to you because of how you are and what you do. To blame anyone or anything else for your misfortunes is an escape and a denial; you yourself are responsible for you, and what happens to you. Patience is required - change doesn't happen overnight, so give change time to happen.
Rule Five - Learning does not end. While you are alive there are always lessons to be learned. Surrender to the 'rhythm of life', don't struggle against it. Commit to the process of constant learning and change - be humble enough to always acknowledge your own weaknesses, and be flexible enough to adapt from what you may be accustomed to, because rigidity will deny you the freedom of new possibilities.
Rule Six - "There" is no better than "here". The other side of the hill may be greener than your own, but being there is not the key to endless happiness. Be grateful for and enjoy what you have, and where you are on your journey. Appreciate the abundance of what's good in your life, rather than measure and amass things that do not actually lead to happiness. Living in the present helps you attain peace.
Rule Seven - Others are only mirrors of you. You love or hate something about another person according to what you love or hate about yourself. Be tolerant; accept others as they are, and strive for clarity of self-awareness; strive to truly understand and have an objective perception of your own self, your thoughts and feelings. Negative experiences are opportunities to heal the wounds that you carry. Support others, and by doing so you support yourself. Where you are unable to support others it is a sign that you are not adequately attending to your own needs.
Rule Eight - What you make of your life is up to you. You have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. Take responsibility for yourself. Learn to let go when you cannot change things. Don't get angry about things - bitter memories clutter your mind. Courage resides in all of us - use it when you need to do what's right for you. We all possess a strong natural power and adventurous spirit, which you should draw on to embrace what lies ahead.
Rule Nine - Your answers lie inside of you. Trust your instincts and your innermost feelings, whether you hear them as a little voice or a flash of inspiration. Listen to feelings as well as sounds. Look, listen, and trust. Draw on your natural inspiration.
Rule Ten - You will forget all this at birth. We are all born with all of these capabilities - our early experiences lead us into a physical world, away from our spiritual selves, so that we become doubtful, cynical and lacking belief and confidence. The ten Rules are not commandments, they are universal truths that apply to us all. When you lose your way, call upon them. Have faith in the strength of your spirit. Aspire to be wise - wisdom the ultimate path of your life, and it knows no limits other than those you impose on yourself.
Richard Templars Rules for Life
1 Keep it under your hat
2 Youll get older but not necessarily wiser
3 Accept what is done is done
4 Accept yourself
5 Know what counts and what doesnt
6 Dedicate your life to something
7 Be flexible in your thinking
8 Take an interest in the outside world
9 Be on the side of the angels, not the beasts
10 Only dead fish swim with the stream
11 Be the last to raise your voice
12 Be your own advisor
13 No Fear, No Surprise, No Hesitation, No Doubt
14 I wish Id done that and I will
15 Count to ten or recite Baa baa black sheep
16 Change what you can change, let go of the rest
17 Aim to be the very best at everything you do no second best
18 Dont be afraid to dream
19 Dont dwell on the past
20 Dont live in the future
21 Get on with life its whooshing
22 Dress like today is important
23 Have a belief system
24 Have a little space for yourself each day
25 Have a plan
26 Have a sense of humour
27 Choose how you make your bed
28 Be in this world, but not of this world
29 Get used to stepping outside your comfort zone
30 Learn to ask questions
31 Have dignity
32 Its OK to feel big emotions
33 Keep the faith
34 Know how to switch off
35 Know where true happiness comes from
36 Know when to let go when to walk away
37 Look after yourself
38 Maintain good manners in all things
39 Prune your stuff frequently
40 Remember to touch base
41 Draw the lines around yourself
42 Shop for quality, not price
43 Its OK to worry, or to know how not to
44 Stay young
45 The American solution doesnt always work
46 Think for yourself
47 You are not in charge
48 Have something in your life that takes you out of yourself
49 Only the good feel guilty
50 If you cant say anything nice, shut up
51 Accept the differences, embrace what you have in common
52 Allow your partner the space to be themselves
53 Be nice
54 You want to do what?
55 Be the first to say sorry
56 Go that extra step in trying to please them
57 Always have someone or something that is pleased to see you...
58 Know when to listen and when to act
59 Have a passion for your life together
60 Make sure your love making is making love
61 Keep talking
62 Respect privacy
63 Check you both have the same shared goals
64 Treat your partner better than your best friend
65 Contentment is a high aim
66 You dont both have to have the same rules
67 If you are going to be a friend, be a good friend
68 Never be too busy for loved ones
69 Let your kids mess up for themselves - they dont need any help from you
70 Have a little respect and forgiveness for your parents
71 Give your kids a break
72 Never lend money unless you are prepared to write it off
73 There are no bad children
74 Be up around people you love
75 Give your kids responsibilities
76 Your children need to fall out with you to leave home
77 Your kid will have friends you dont like
78 Your role as a child
79 Your role as a parent
80 Were all closer than you think
81 It doesnt hurt to forgive
82 It doesnt hurt to be helpful
83 Take pride in what we do collectively
84 Do your job well
85 Hang out with smart people
86 Be generous with your time and information
87 Get involved
88 Keep the moral high ground
89 Have a plan for your career
90 Learn to see your community as part of a bigger picture
91 Look at the long term ramifications of what you do for a living
92 Be good at your job
93 Be aware of the damage you are doing
94 Be for the glory, not the degradation
95 Be part of the solution, not the problem
96 Check what history would say about you
97 Keep your eyes open at all times
98 Not everything can be green
99 Put something back
100 Find a new rule every day or occasionally at least