#thisrules
Rules get a bad rap. Or maybe it's more accurate to say following them does. But following the rules – whether it's the federal law kind of rule, or just an everyday rule like that golden one we ignore more and more – creates a chain reaction of positivity. When we follow rules we generate consistency and balance. When we can trust in that consistency we avoid stress or anxiety and increase well-being. Without a surplus of anxiety we think more clearly and retain the resources to show compassion.
I think this is one of the most destructive trends of the modern era. It creates a world we can't relax in. We can't let our guard down, hardly for a second. As a result, we're on edge, all the time, waiting to parry or dodge the next assault.
To me, following rules is a signal of civilization and intelligence. It shows I have the patience, will, and humility to put the greater good first, to accept that I'm not the only one. It does not make me weak or show a lack of ambition. And I fail sometimes, often even, but I believe in its importance, so I keep at it.
Try approaching a day, even an hour with the patience to follow a few simple rules. Obey a law. Don't cut in line. Don't text in the car. Treat others as you would have them treat you – whether you like them or not. And watch our lives get better.
