Thank Goodness It's Monday #327

WHAT IF THERE ARE NO UNIVERSAL RULES?

So I’ve been getting a little flack lately about the “Rules” we’ve been sharing here.

Not grievous, harmful, stop-me-dead-in-my tracks flack.

Quite the contrary actually.  Starting with TGIM #235 I characterized them as “Universal Rules to Live By.”

But since then a number of folks have engaged me with their thoughtful input on whether what we’re posting are “Rules” or “Secrets” (like the popular program The Secret), or “Laws” or “Guidelines” or “Wisdom” or similar descriptions.

And …

There’s been some questioning of just how to characterize them: Universal …, First … Immutable … Undeniable … or maybe just Useful Rules. (If most things in life were “just useful” imagine how far ahead we’d be.)

And, finally …

Some have commented on the scope of their influence: Rules of Life, … of Success, … of Survival, … of Attraction, … for Getting By.

So --

First of all: Thank you for your input. I appreciate it and hope you’ll stay engaged in such a thoughtful way.

Second: I’ve tried to process all you’ve told me and, now that I have, I’ve formulated what I hope is a satisfactory response.

TGIM Takeaway: You’re right.

You are correct. Whatever your position on what we’ve posted so far, your characterization and interpretation of these – uh, let’s just call them Useful Rules – is absolutely correct. For you.

There’s even a rule for it, sort of. Remember Dr. Spock (no, not the pointy-eared, ever-logical character Leonard Nimoy played in the Star Trek series)? I’m referring to the real, live, earthling Dr. Benjamin Spock; the bestselling author of the baby guide that millions of parents consulted while raising the baby boom generation.

Let’s take his primary bit of advice for new parents, allow it be applied to virtually every situation and call it –

Dr. Spock’s First Rule:

Trust yourself.

You know more than you think you know.

And so it goes for all the rules we have and will be sharing. In fact, so it goes for almost any advice you receive from others that doesn’t sit quite right with you.

So in this spirit (and allowing for The First Rule of Rules which is There’s usually an exception to every rule – including this one) I’m going to press on and continue to share more –

Useful Rules To Live By

In this round, let’s look at “Useful Rules” that, as with Dr. Spock’s Rule, tend to be of a personal nature.

The Useful Rule of …

• Perception: The world is exactly as you perceive it to be.

• Possibility: If you say it’s impossible, it probably is.  And, if you say it’s possible, it probably is.

• Walking the walk: People believe you when they see you living it.

• Setting/achieving goals: Every arrow that flies feels the attraction of the earth. If you would hit the mark, you must aim a little above it.

• Empowerment: Everyone deserves, at least once a day, for someone else to make them feel significant.

• Honesty: Always tell the truth as you know it, remembering that others may know differently.

• Multi-tasking: One thing at a time.

• Amazement: Take nothing for granted.

• Responsibility: Clean up your own mess.

• Enthusiasm: Throw your heart over the fence and the rest will follow.

• R-E-S-P-E-C-T (with apologies to Aretha Franklin): If you want to be respected, you must respect yourself (with props to The Staple Singers).

• Belief: Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact.

• Opportunity: Is greatest where you are. The lure of the distant is deceptive

• Risk taking: Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

• New beginnings: Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.

• Persistence: Fall seven times, get up eight.

Do these Useful Rules “work” for you? I hope so.

And beyond Useful, they’re meant to be “Universal” enough so they pass the standard Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) termed –

The Categorical Imperative: Stated in an extremely over-simplified way, that’s the belief that everyone should follow only those principles they would like to see applied universally. Kant defined an imperative as any proposition that declares a certain action (or inaction) to be necessary. And he argued that “immorality” occurs when people set special standards for themselves alone.

Can you play by these rules? Then –

Share please.

Add to the collection with a qualifying rule (or rules) you’re guided by. Post a response. Or reach out directly at tgimguy@gmail.com. Just tell your story to the best of your ability. And if you have a source or attribution, please share that. Thanks.

Wrapping up for today: Since we started with Dr. Spock, and made a passing reference to the Start-Trekking half-human/half-Vulcan science officer, let’s close with a “rule” we know he would endorse.

Mr. Spock’s Rule: Live long and prosper.

Geoff Steck
Chief Catalyst
Alexander Publishing & Marketing

8 Depot Square
Englewood, NJ 07631
201-569-5373
tgimguy@gmail.com   

P.S. “Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is an organized life.” Immanuel Kant said that.