Personal Growth

7 Rules of Life: Play by the Rules, Live Your Best Life

An instructional guide on how to live a well-lived life.

Go through the ‘7 Rules of Life’ list and answer this question, which one do you find the hardest to follow?

What happens now? I found myself asking that question too many times in my life. And it’s a waste of time.

Life will always remain uncertain, and if there is one lesson I learned after my mom passed away, it’s that everything works out in the end.

Between life and death is our in-between.

An important tool to help us navigate through life is by knowing the 7 cardinal rules of life.

I know that rules are hard to follow. And the first time you live by a rule could be difficult but all the best rules in life take time to feel like a second skin.

As a kid, my mom taught me this rule early in life.

If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.

Check out the list, and if you can do only one today, what will it be?

The 7 cardinal rules in life

The origin of the ‘7 rules in life’ comes from a movie, Whisper of the Heart a Japanese animation movie in 1995 (耳をすませば). Whoever came up with the list remains unknown.

And like everything in life, it’s the message and not the messenger that lasts forever.

A simple list yet can be so hard to live by. Here they are in no particular order.

You can write the cardinal rules on a piece of paper or you can also get the 7 Rules of Life Motivational Poster — Printed on Premium Cardstock Paper here. (Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)

👉👉Make peace with your past, so that it does not spoil your present.

Let it go as the song goes, and yet many of us find it hard to let go of the past. We all find ourselves lost in playing a movie of our past inside our heads.

I still find myself caught in looking at my old self, but each day is a new day to learn to let go, and be forgiving of myself.

Your yesterday is not your today.

👉👉What others think of you is none of your business.

It all boils down to how much you value yourself and how significant you believe you are.

Words hurt. What people say can hurt. Again, don’t play on your mind past hurt. Be your own champion, what is more powerful is that you are your biggest ally. Surround yourself with the right people, and ditch the negative people by not making them part of life.

👉👉Time heals almost everything, Allow time to pass.

The pain will be less unbearable. Scars shape who we are; they offer context for our lives and explain why we are the way we are. They challenge us to the test and help us grow.

As I get older, I truly understand the meaning of ‘time heals all wounds,’ the memory remains but that’s all they are now in my 50s … memories.

👉👉No one is the reason for your happiness, except for you, of course.

Don’t waste time and energy looking for happiness, joy, and love in the world around you.

It doesn’t mean we can’t be happy or in love with another person, but true happiness will never come from someone else but from yourself. The kind of people who will do anything to reach their goals regardless of who they hurt in the process are the people who will never be truly happy.

👉👉Don’t compare your life with others, You have no idea what their journey entails.

If we all put our issues in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d take ours as fast as possible.

A lesson from Olympic athletes, they focus on their own race. Their eyes are focused on the finish line. The same goes for us, the less time we look at others’ success the more time we can have to focus on our own. The way other people live their lives is none of your business. To be a successful person you must always choose to do the right thing. Real success means living a life with a purpose and not stepping on anyone’s foot.

👉👉Stop thinking too much, It’s fine if you don’t have all the answers.

There are times when there is no answer, there will never be an answer, and never has been an answer. That is the solution! Accept it and go on to the next step!

I admit like many, I think a lot and worry a lot. But didn’t it occur to you that most of our worries never happen, our time is better spent on living in the moment? And learn to let go of unnecessary responsibilities.

👉👉Smile, You are not responsible for all of the world’s problems.

A smile may lighten even the darkest day and brighten up life. It has the potential to turn a person’s life around and put things right.

I admit there was a time in my life that I felt there was nothing to smile about, and yet there will always be pockets of joy, if only I allowed it. Today, Sky the pom comes to the house every day and she makes me smile.

I have no excuse not to smile. The world has bigger problems, how can I not be grateful?

How can you overcome challenges and obstacles when following these rules?

Are the “7 Rules of Life” cut in stone, that everyone should follow? It’s a question that has driven many philosophers and intellectuals crazy. So, don't be like them. Remember, You are in charge of your happiness and personal growth.

No matter who you are or where you come from, there are certain rules that everyone should live by. These guidelines can only help you live a happier, healthier, and more productive life.

One should not obsess about living by these rules, one rule is enough until you are ready to try the next one.

You shouldn’t worry if you’re not ready to let go of the past, or smile today.

A rule I try to live by each day is to be kind to myself, a rule that I try not to break.

Final words

To live your best life, you have to make peace with the past versions of yourself. Only if you practice a rule a day, in your daily life can you experience miracles in your life.

Unlearn your past mistakes, stop having regrets and avoid negative interactions.

Let go of the little things, they only sap your energy, and you’re on track to be in the right direction.

If you feel there is not much time left to change, don’t let that thought become your biggest problem.

The following rules are variations of the cardinal rules in life.

Rule 1 — Be Yourself.

Rule 2 — Don’t be a jerk.

Rule 3 — Have Fun.

Rule 4 — Don’t take yourself too seriously.

Rule 5 — Treat others as you want to be treated.

Rule 6 — Keep your promises.

Rule 7 — Live in the moment.

A bright future is ahead of you, it is never too late. The 7 cardinal rules of life can be steps to living your best life, you are the only person in charge of your happiness.

Or you can choose to play by your own rules.

Have a good day.

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