Rules To Live By

Google "rules to live by" and you’re met with hundreds of thousands of search results.

Those results are countless "do and don’ts" for business, life, health, relationships … but how do you know which rules to follow? With so much information available online, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed — and when we feel overwhelmed, we do nothing. You don’t want that to happen to you, so here is some inspiration to act: I’m going to show you how to set and live by your own rules. That way, you can actually follow your own advice and do what works for you. After all, no one knows you better than you know yourself.

Once you set your own rules, they become rules with no exception; rules you don’t break under any circumstances. You no longer have to decide whether you’re going to workout or whether you should drink on a weeknight or not, for example — you simply follow your rules. While "rules" tend to carry a negative connotation, they can ultimately empower you, hold you to a higher standard, and keep you on track with your goals.

Here’s a four-step process that will help you set your own rules — and commit to them:

Step #1

Decide what you want and why you want it. This can be a goal you want to achieve ("I want lose 14 pounds”) or a trait you want add to your personality (“I want feel more confident on a regular basis"). Success in any area is built sequentially, so begin with a single focal point. Once you’ve decided what you want, you must determine why you want it. "Great leaders are those who trust their gut," writes Simon Sinek, author of Start with Why. "They are those who understand the art before the science. They win hearts before minds. They are the ones who start with WHY."

If you want to lead yourself to being more consistent, you need to know why. Do you want it because you believe it’ll make you happier, more money, or look good? Knowing your "why" will take care of your "how."

Four steps to rules you will actually keep

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