every place has it own set of rules —
every family has their own house rules,
every establishment has their own set of rules,
every organization has their own set of rules,
the government has its own set of rules,
hell — you have your own set of rules (most of which are defined as boundaries).
rules aren’t inherently good or bad, they simply are.
they help regulate feelings by establishing what will + will not be tolerated in their presence.
in most cases, they serve as a way to organize the chaos + keep the peace;
however, there are instances where people use to “rules” to impede + encroach on people’s basic human rights + free will; to weaponize their existence against them.
when making rules for your life, remember why you’re establishing these rules in the first place.
rules aren’t perfect, yet they are a necessary means of offering fairness + protection, + when they are regularly reviewed for their intention + effectiveness.
constantly review + audit your rules, + with curiosity, alter the ones that no longer align with your way of life.
you don’t eat spicy foods because you’ve experienced indigestion one time — is that an isolated experience? are you willing to try spice on a certain level? why or why not?
you eat dessert after your main meal — is that rule hard + fast or do you sometimes make exceptions?
you follow a rule that you must maintain a relationship with all of your relatives — is that your rule or a family rule? in what ways is this rule important to you?
you believe you have to be away from your home in order to complete an exercise routine — why is that + does that incapacitate/inconvenience you in any way? can you still move within the confines on your own home? are their free.99 exercises you can do that won’t break the bank while still getting in those reps?
you only read a book once + then you forget about it — can you benefit from reading literature multiple times + will you extend that opportunity to yourself? why or why not?
you wear an outfit once + then you give it away or bury it in your closet — why?
you acknowledge your grievances before you express your gratitude — is that a rule that you’re willing to upkeep? explain.
controlling yourself — your impulses, your thoughts, your actions — requires a set of rules that once established, you follow, + continuously audit.
life is constantly changing, your perspective can change at any moment, + the rules that worked for you in the past may not longer have relevance now.
rules are meant to be broken, fam.
by the same token, rules are meant to exist if only for a moment in time.
you may not agree with every rule that’s out there + that’s a-ok, fam.
determine, moving forward, what rules are important in your life/what you’re willing to tolerate + govern yourself accordingly.
be you, be dope!
Phylicia Sadsarin
Mindset Coach
journal prompt(s) for today:
what are your thoughts about living without any rules?
what’s a rule you’ve been following forever that no longer makes sense for you? with what rule will you replace it?