5 rules for LIFE. A prescription for being a little bit happier.

This is a list of actual rules – augh, rules . . . I get it.  But, I’m sharing because I genuinely think these helped me and they could help you too.

It was 2017 – and we’d moved to NYC for a few months.  It was awesome and nonstop – but also exhausting and like I mentioned – nonstop and loud and I was starting to be blue more days than not.  And I couldn’t really place what it was about.

So I was prescribed this list of ‘rules’ by my husband – to practice and see if it helped.

I find someone outside of yourself is more able to catch you when you’re in a time of anxiety, stress, and depression – a bit easier than you can.  They’re standing removed from the pain and can give a different viewpoint on it.  I have ALWAYS struggled with these things – I know it’s very common in humans and I personally can remember it as far back to being a small child and getting anxiety and stress to go to school or visitation with my Dad or my Mom’s health.  There were a lot of pretty traumatic things that popped up in my childhood – so this particular ‘anxiety’ wiring was put into place a while back for me.

But – the awesome thing that I discovered (and this list launched that for me) – is that, though, your brain is smart at certain things and completely complex and seems to be functioning outside of your control.  It’s actually a dumb-dumb and can be tricked – rewired and manipulated.  With time, a bit of brainwashing and repeated thoughts.

My husband and I are wired somewhat differently, where he is pretty chilled out and seems to have a great perspective on his priorities and happiness – I can be a little more extreme and run by emotions.  I have higher highs and lower lows.  I will lose perspective and become dissatisfied with whatever my thing is at that moment.  ‘I haven’t accomplished this or that’ – ‘I am not where I think I should be’ – ‘look at what he/she is working on…’ – Comparison is THE GROSSEST.

So one day – he sat down with me and had me write out these Five Rules in my journal.  They were completely off the cuff – but – seem to be the exact rules I needed to be reminding myself of.  So over a period of a few weeks, I referred to them daily – multiple times a day – until it began to sink into my brain.

Here they are :

#1 – Be Grateful.

When you are running down the list of things that you have to be grateful for – it’s pretty difficult to stay worked up about what you don’t have.  And there is always – always – always something to be grateful for.

#2 – Practice Patience.

(The P. Word. . . ) towards yourself and others – this is a sticky one for me – I am not naturally patient – so the idea of having to practice it . . . well, it takes practice.

#3 – Show Kindness.

Towards yourself and others – you’re going to run into some real turds out there in the world.  People are in pain and you can see it in their behavior.  Remember that has NOTHING to do with you – keep being kind because that IS about you.

#4 – Stop Judging.

That also goes for yourself and others.  Man, do we judge each other – but – again – mind your own business – stop watching what other people are up to and start focusing on YOU.  And don’t judge yourself too hard for judging . . . you’re JUST learning the rules.

#5 – Have fun.

This one is awesome – are you having fun??  If not, please figure out why – and – what you consider fun – what brings you joy and do that A LOT more.  Please . . . go right now after this blog post and have some friggin fun – it’s prescribed.

These are brilliant rules to follow and practice and remind yourself of.  But this list also brought me to this one really big realization.  I was being really mean TO ME.  I was judging myself pretty hard – I was NOT being kind to myself – being patient with myself. . . or having that much fun.  And that is a pretty sucky way to go from day to day.

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit” – Aristotle

I believe this applies to your happiness as well – it may not be what your natural state is – but with making happiness, gratitude, kindness, fun, patience, a lack of judgment, a repeated habit – All of that stuff will certainly become more common in your own life.  Because YOU’RE making it common in your life.

Do you have your own ‘RULES TO LIFE’ – comment below – I would love to hear what helps you.