I recently stumbled upon a brilliant ‘7 rules of life’ quote that left a lasting impact on me, and it has been on my mind ever since.
“Here’s a rule of life: You don’t get to pick what bad things happen to you” – Rory Miller
I’ve spent half of my life looking for a recipe to boost my own happiness, and I imagined it would be something totally complicated.
To my surprise, happiness, success, and a more fulfilled life have been here in front of me all this time, and all I needed to do was follow some important rules.
All I needed to do was follow the below seven rules of life.
Not so long ago, I got out of a toxic relationship that scarred me very badly.
I had difficulty forgiving myself for not noticing those red flags earlier, and I thought I would never be able to enjoy the present because I was so preoccupied with the past.
I’ve always been too hard on myself in every aspect of my life, from work to relationships, and I also often worry about what other people think of me (needless to say how tiring or even exhausting that mental process is).
My biggest problem was that I wasn’t aware of any of these things until the 7 rules of life kicked in. I realized that true happiness comes from within you, and you cannot find it anywhere else.
What Are The 7 Rules Of Life?
So, what are the golden rules of life? Those that can help each and every single one of us simplify our life? Rules that can lead us to a happier and more fulfilled life? And, the most important question is, do those rules even exist?
Of course, they do. And, trust me, you aren’t even aware of the power those rules have to make your life better on so many levels.
In the end, life is all about doing simple things that make you sincerely happy.
These 7 cardinal rules of life represent the vital step toward your personal growth and development. The sooner you start following and applying them, the sooner you’ll unlock the opportunity to become the master of your own happiness.
1. Make peace with your past, so it doesn’t affect your present
How many times have you regretted one thing you did in the past and couldn’t stop thinking about it? How many times have you blamed yourself for something you couldn’t influence?
One too many, I assume. I used to do that, too. I blamed myself for things I wasn’t in control of, and I was thinking about too many what-ifs.
This influenced the quality of my life and my overall mental and physical health.
Back then, I didn’t know that the key to living your best life lies in the ability to make peace with your past.
If you don’t do that, it will affect your present. You will not be able to live in the moment and enjoy the little things in life. You will not find true happiness.
So, forgive yourself and others for everything that happened in the past. Don’t hold grudges, don’t overthink, and don’t play a blame-shifting game.
Take a deep breath, focus on the things in front of you, and enjoy the present.
Remember that you can’t change what happened in the past, and you can’t predict what will happen in the future.
The only time you can make a difference is by being fully in the present.
2. Believe in the power of time
No matter how hurt or broken you are at the moment, remember that time heals everything. I know it’s hard to accept that as a solution, but trust me, it’s the only truth.
I remember when I was going through a severe heartbreak after a break-up.
I would curse and blame everything and everyone (mostly myself) for letting that happen to me (and it’s not that I could have influenced it).
All I wanted to do was spend time alone watching movies, eating ice cream, and daydreaming about the day when all this would be a thing of the past.
When I wasn’t doing any of that, I forced myself to start dating others because I thought the sooner I fall in love with another person, the sooner I’d finally be healed.
Back then, I didn’t know that forcing myself to start feeling better would only make me feel even worse.
I didn’t know that time heals everything, and all I needed to do was wait, acknowledge my feelings, and be patient.
All I needed to do was say to myself: Let it go, focus on the present, and believe that time will heal your wounds.
When something bad happens to you, say this to yourself and believe in the 7 rules of life, and know that time is your best friend in misery.
3. What others think of you is none of your business!
“If I start dating them, everyone will be in shock.” “If I do this or that, people will probably think that I’m totally weird.”
Let’s face it. We generally spend a lot of time thinking about what others are thinking about us. When you read this sentence a few times, you finally understand how ridiculous it truly is.
People will never stop thinking about things. You will never stop doing that, and neither will I.
We will always have an opinion about something, from another’s choice of clothes to their habits, and this doesn’t mean that they are wrong and we are right.
No one is wrong or right here. What others think of you is none of your business, and what you think of others is also none of their business.
So, for the first time, do yourself a favor and stop seeking validation from others in order to start flourishing.
Stop worrying about what others will think or say about you. They have a right to have an opinion, and you have the option not to accept it or worry about it.
Trust me, amazing things happen when you stop giving a damn about what other people think.
4. Don’t judge, and don’t ever compare yourself with others
Stop thinking that if you looked like that one person or had their house, you would be happier. Stop thinking that they are mightier, better, or happier than you.
Stop thinking that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. You have your own unique path just like every other single human being out there.
Don’t judge others if you, yourself, don’t want to be judged. Don’t compare your life to others, but start working on making the best of your own.
Just because someone else’s house is bigger than yours doesn’t mean the people who live in it are happier than you. Also, it doesn’t mean that you should feel less worthy.
Just because someone has the perfect life on social media doesn’t mean they don’t have problems with their physical or mental health or other struggles in the real world.
No matter what you’re doing at the moment, and no matter where you are, know that you are exactly where you are supposed to be right now.
In order to overcome the grass is greener syndrome, you need to stop comparing and start working.
Do your best each day, be grateful for what you already have, and the universe will reward you accordingly.
5. Stop overthinking and start living in the present
Do you often worry about what will happen in the future? Are you often anxious about making choices in life because you’re scared that you’ll make a mistake?
Stop doing that. Stop overthinking about things you’re not in control of. Remember that you’re only human and it is okay to make mistakes sometimes.
By doing that, you are evolving and becoming closer to your true self. It’s alright not to know all the answers because you’re not supposed to know them.
Imagine if you knew every single detail of your future life and every outcome of your decisions. Life wouldn’t be so much fun, right?
Every successful person is afraid of uncertainty and taking risks, but they know if they do the best they can and keep thinking positively, they will eventually succeed in whatever they are doing.
By allowing yourself not to know all the answers, you are making space for progress. By making mistakes in life, you are learning valuable lessons.
So, relax. Breathe. Don’t overthink, and don’t be so hard on yourself.
Make a decision, do your best, and think positive. Believe. Hope. And, if you fail, try again and again.
One of the most motivational quotes about success by Alexander the Great summarizes all this: “There is nothing impossible to him who will try.”
6. Remember, you’re the only one in charge of your happiness!
You’re the only one who is in charge of your own happiness! This is one of my top favorite cardinal rules for life.
If you put your happiness into someone else’s hands, you will never be happy. The only person who can make you truly happy is YOU.
(Yes, it took me a long time to start practicing this one.)
Remember that true happiness is not about buying the most expensive car or regularly swiping your credit card. It is not about having everything you ever wanted.
It’s about being happy with and being grateful for what you ALREADY have.
If you don’t gather the courage to do something that you have always wanted to do, no one else will do it for you.
If you don’t love yourself, you will not be able to receive love from or give love to others.
You’re the only one in charge of your future, so stop complaining about things, stop whining about those extra pounds, and start hitting the gym.
Stop living unhealthily, and practice a holistic lifestyle.
Reduce your stress levels by meditating.
Nourish your mind by reading inspiring books.
Do that one thing you always wanted to do, but for some reason, haven’t yet!
Truly, there are so many things you can do to improve your life instantly and become the best version of yourself. You have the potential to transform your life and make the best out of it.
Realizing that you’re the one responsible for your own happiness is one of the secrets to attaining true happiness.
7. Smile despite everything
Even on the darkest days, smile.
Keep in mind that no matter how miserable or hurt you’re feeling at the moment, it could always be worse (which is, by the way, my father’s favorite saying).
There will always be someone who has it worse than you.
You might hurt your leg, whine about it, and blame the universe, but keep in mind that some people wish to even have a leg to hurt.
Whatever problems you’re having, the chances are they are not really as bad as you might think. If one thing bothers you, then find a hundred other things to smile about.
“Always remember to be happy because you never know who’s falling in love with your smile.” – C.J. Duggan
Your biggest strength lies in the ability to find a silver lining even in the most difficult situations.
You have probably seen painters who paint without arms, basketball players who play from their wheelchair, heartbroken people who still choose to smile.
What they all have in common is the willingness to kindle their beautiful spirit. Instead of focusing on their loss, they direct their energy into making the best out of their present.
So, smile even when it’s the last thing you want to do because you’ll never be happier than you are right now.
How Do You Apply Cardinal Rules And Principles In Your Daily Life?
These rules encompass everything we need to pay attention to in order to live a happier and healthier life.
And, the best thing of all is that they are not complicated but so simple that anyone can follow them.
You can apply them by starting to change your mindset, then you can change your entire life! Yup, it’s that simple. Every happy and successful person knows that.
Deciding not to worry about trivial things and focusing on what truly matters will provide new opportunities and possibilities.
Realizing that you are the only creator of your own happiness will attract abundance and more positive things into your life. Change starts within you.
In Closing: Stay Loyal To Yourself!
If I had to add one more rule to the equation, ‘be yourself’ would be my eighth rule of life.
Love yourself, and don’t try to reach perfection. Instead, focus on becoming the best version of yourself.
Love your imperfections, flaws, and quirks. Remember that these are the things that make you truly special and stand out from others.
Whenever you find yourself frustrated about things, remember these 7 cardinal rules. You can even get these 7 rules of life printed on some kind of inspirational poster and use it as your living room or home office decor.
Live your life to the fullest and unlock your full potential. And, keep the smile on your face!
Let this inspirational quote from Buddha be your guiding star through your challenging journey called life… “What you think, you become. What you feel, you attract. What you imagine, you create.”