Rules From The Heart

Who likes rules? Why do I want to follow rules? Rules are everywhere. We are tired of rules. What if we had our own rules? What if our rules helped us?

If we wanted to achieve something specific like a goal to become a comedian, what would that set of rules look like?

• Look at things through a comic lens
• When people say strange things, write them down right there.
• When people say trite, meaningless things, write them down right there.
• When people say boring things...
• Always have a notebook and pen.
• Write up 3 new jokes every day.
• Try a joke on one person a day.
• Daily solo walk to run through funny ideas.

Or, how about rules for becoming a crafty one?

• Make sure I always have room on my crafting table.
• Give myself an hour each day to craft
• Have an ongoing list of 3 crafts to do.
• Since there is no time, wake up early to do crafts by myself.
• Since I don't want to wake up, go to bed early.
• I want this more than anything, so I will do it.
• Make it fun to craft, should not be work.
• Post to pinterest to show off.

By having our own rules, we are establishing a baseline for what we really want to do. We write these things down and then they become our mantra. This is what we want. No one is forcing these things upon us.

What if we wanted to just be healthy, based upon what we knew about health?

• Limit my added sugar to 36 grams a day
• Get 7 hours sleep a night.
• Eat fruit and vegetables all day long as snacks.
• Prepare lunch of fruit and vegetables each day.
• Don't eat after 8pm each night.
• Limit meat to one meal a day.
• Eat vegetables until I am full
• Limit dairy to just breakfast or not at all

But hold on! What if we are writing things down we don't believe? What if we don't really want to give up meat or dairy? What if we hate vegetables?

Then, stop! Our rules have to be rules from the heart. We have to want to follow our rules. Our rules have to be lifelong rules. Our rules have to have conviction. Our rules are guided by experience and a desire to change. 

We already deal with enough of society's rules. We stop at stop signs. We pay taxes. We take our kids to school. We put up with our "friends" on social media.

My rules are for me. This is what we believe based on our desires and our education. Our rules change as we learn. 

We make our rules and follow them so we can change the way we want.