(Note: Amazon Audible may request payment information, but rest assured that no charges will be made as it is completely free.)
“12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos” is a self-help book written by Canadian clinical psychologist Jordan B. Peterson. The book was published in 2018 and quickly became a bestseller, thanks to Peterson’s ability to provide practical advice for navigating life’s many challenges.
The book is structured around twelve rules that Peterson believes can help individuals lead more fulfilling lives. These rules cover a range of topics, from personal responsibility and discipline to relationships and meaning. Let’s take a closer look at each of these rules and what they entail.
Rule 1: Stand up straight with your shoulders back.
Peterson argues that standing up straight is not only good for physical health, but also a sign of confidence and self-assuredness. By adopting this posture, individuals can send a signal to others and themselves that they are capable and competent.
Rule 2: Treat yourself like someone you are responsible for helping.
This rule encourages individuals to prioritize their own well-being and take care of themselves in the same way they would take care of a loved one or pet. This includes developing healthy habits, setting achievable goals, and seeking out necessary medical care.
Rule 3: Make friends with people who want the best for you.
This rule stresses the importance of surrounding oneself with positive and supportive individuals. It encourages individuals to be selective in their friendships and to seek out those who will provide constructive criticism and encouragement.
Rule 4: Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today.
This rule advises individuals to focus on their own personal growth rather than comparing themselves to others. Peterson argues that each individual’s journey is unique and should be measured against their own progress, not the accomplishments of others.
Rule 5: Do not let your children do anything that makes you dislike them.
Peterson believes that parents have a responsibility to discipline and guide their children to help them become responsible and well-adjusted adults. This rule encourages parents to set appropriate boundaries and to provide children with clear expectations and consequences for their behavior.
Rule 6: Set your house in perfect order before you criticize the world.
This rule advises individuals to focus on their own personal growth and well-being before trying to change the world. Peterson argues that by improving oneself, individuals can become a positive influence on those around them and make a meaningful difference in the world.
Rule 7: Pursue what is meaningful (not what is expedient).
This rule encourages individuals to find purpose and meaning in their lives rather than simply seeking pleasure or immediate gratification. Peterson believes that pursuing meaningful goals can lead to a more fulfilling and satisfying life.
Rule 8: Tell the truth – or, at least, don’t lie.
This rule emphasizes the importance of honesty and integrity in all aspects of life. Peterson argues that lying can have negative consequences not only for oneself, but also for others and society as a whole.
Rule 9: Assume that the person you are listening to might know something you don’t.
This rule encourages individuals to approach conversations and interactions with an open mind and to seek out diverse perspectives. Peterson believes that by listening and learning from others, individuals can gain new insights and grow in their understanding of the world.
Rule 10: Be precise in your speech.
This rule stresses the importance of clear and concise communication. Peterson argues that by speaking precisely, individuals can avoid misunderstandings and build stronger relationships with others.
Rule 11: Do not bother children when they are skateboarding.
This rule is a metaphor for allowing individuals to take risks and make mistakes as part of their personal growth and development. Peterson argues that by allowing individuals to pursue their own interests and passions, they can develop important life skills and find greater fulfillment.
Rule 12: Pet a cat when you encounter one on the street.
This final rule encourages individuals to find
1.Stand up straight with your shoulders back.
🟠 The poor and stressed always die first, and in greater
numbers. They are also much more susceptible to non-Infectious diseases. When the aristocracy catches a cold, as it is said, the working class dies of pneumonia.
2.Treat yourself like someone you are responsible for helping
🟠 People are better at properly administering
prescription medication to their pets than to
themselves. Consider your future and think, ‘what might my life look like if I were caring for myselfproperly?
3) Make friends with people who want the best for you.
Try Audible Premium Plus and Get Up to Two Free Audiobooks
🟠 Friendship is a reciprocal arrangement, you are not morally obliged to support someone who is making the world a worse place. Quite the opposite, you should choose people who want things to be better, not worse.
4)Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today
🟠 You’ve got specific problems. Run your own race and avoid peering in the lane next to you.
5) Don’t let your children do anything that makes you dislike them
🟠 Many parents want their children’s friendship above all, and are willing to sacrifice respect to get it. That’s not good.
6) Set your house in order before you criticize the world
🟠 Consider your circumstances, start small, have you taken full advantage of the opportunities presented to you? Start to stop doing something that you know to be wrong.
7) Pursue what is meaningful, not what is expedient
🟠 Follow your impulses and live for the moment.
We should delay our gratification in service of what is
meaningful. Means that something may be better
attained in the future by giving up something of value in the present.
8) Tell the truth or at least don’t lie
🟠 Those are not merely two different choices. They are different pathways through life.
If you don’t reveal yourself to others, you can’t reveal yourself to yourself.
9) Assume the person you are listening to knows something that you don’t.
🟠 If you believe every person can teach you something, you open yourself up to growth and learning in every encounter with another human being.
10)Be precise in your speech
🟠 Specify the problem, is to admit that it exists, which can be confronting.
11) Don’t bother the children when they are
skateboarding
🟠 As you age without maturing, you will become
worthless and bitter, but you will never have to take any responsibility, and everything you do that’s wrong will always be someone else’s fault.
12) Pet a cat when you encounter one on the street
🟠 Wonder of being might make up for the ineradicable suffering the accompanies it. Noticing is better than thinking.
💯 You can’t improve if you don’t know what you’re doing wrong.