In 2007, Italian police arrested Salvatore Lo Piccolo.
This dude was an precise boss from the true life Sicilian Mafia.
As they explored his home, they stumbled throughout what they believed to be their official “10 commandments” of their crew.
In different phrases, “If you wish to be mobster, observe these 10 simple steps!”
- No-one can current himself instantly to a different of our associates. There should be a 3rd individual to do it.
- By no means have a look at the wives of associates.
- By no means be seen with cops.
- Don’t go to pubs and golf equipment.
- At all times being out there for Cosa Nostra is an obligation – even when your spouse’s about to provide beginning.
- Appointments should completely be revered.
- Wives should be handled with respect.
- When requested for any info, the reply should be the reality.
- Cash can’t be appropriated if it belongs to others or to different households.
- Individuals who can’t be a part of Cosa Nostra: anybody who has an in depth relative within the police, anybody with a two-timing relative within the household, anybody who behaves badly and doesn’t maintain to ethical values.
These guidelines definitely don’t cowl each single choice that each mobster must make daily, however they’re guidelines that someone can be taught, internalize, and apply after they discover themselves in a precarious scenario and are not sure how you can act.
The Mob isn’t the one crew that has guidelines both.
Historic Samurai in Japan, had “Bushido” aka “The best way of the warrior.” 8 rules for their personal code of conduct:
- Righteousness (Justice)
- Braveness
- Benevolence (Mercy)
- Respect
- Honesty
- Honor
- Loyalty
- Self-Management
Elsewhere, knights in medieval Europe had a “Code of Chivalry,” which lined issues like “safety of the weak and poor, courtesy and respect, braveness and navy prowess.”
Maximus Decimus Meridius in Gladiator and his fellow troopers at all times picked one another up with “Power and honor.”
In 300, Spartan Troopers knew to “come residence along with your protect, or on it.”
We now have Rules for the Nerd Fitness Rebellion too!
I deliver up these guidelines as a result of we’d not be mobsters, knights, or samurai…
However I guess including some guidelines to your life might assist.
Guidelines may also help us make choices.
Life is difficult, and our brains are able to speaking us into and out of assorted choices.
Nevertheless, when we have now a rule in place, it permits us to make a transparent selection moderately than agonizing over it.
Extra importantly. We will make a rule ONCE, after which we don’t should waste any brainpower or willpower on every choice in a while.
Right here’s a fast instance:
A lot of the profitable fashionable diets are merely an inventory of guidelines that individuals observe that get them to eat fewer calories.
- Intermittent fasting means “I solely eat between midday at 8pm.”
- The Paleo Diet means “I don’t eat something a caveman wouldn’t eat.”
- Vegan means “I don’t eat any merchandise derived from animals.”
I’m not saying any of those methods above are higher or worse than any others, both. I deliver up these heuristics as a result of they’ve helped many, and been unhelpful for a lot of.
Every individual can provide you with a set of aspirational guidelines that assist them degree up their lives.
I definitely have “fitness” rules that I usually follow:
I do know once I observe these guidelines, “the Approach of the Nerd,” I’ve a reasonably good probability of staying match, wholesome, and feeling good about myself.
I even have guidelines about interacting with the world and being a good human:
These particular guidelines may not be just right for you, and that’s okay.
They’re my guidelines.
Your guidelines should replicate your scenario.
We Respect the Guidelines of Others
Right here’s one other enjoyable hack: we’d not like all guidelines, however we are inclined to respect other people’s rules:
our coworker affords you a donut, and also you say “ohhhhh, I shouldn’t.” They could come again with “c’mon, reside somewhat,” as a result of they don’t need to be the one individual consuming a donut…
However if you happen to say “I’ve a rule that I don’t eat donuts on weekdays,” then you have got a tough rule that you simply’re following, and your coworker will in all probability respect this.
Some folks may abstain from sure meals or drinks for non secular or private causes.
There’s no motive you’ll be able to’t have guidelines for no matter rattling motive you need to!
What are YOUR guidelines?
An excellent mixture of aspirational, skilled, and society-improving guidelines is an effective place to begin. Or heck, simply considered one of every!
Heck, even one for every is usually a good place to begin.
These guidelines must be YOURS.
Listed here are some concepts that will help you get began:
- At work “I do what I say I’m going to do, on schedule, or I inform my crew forward of schedule if I want extra time.”
- With associates, “I at all times ship a thank-you be aware after being invited to one thing by a pal”
- For well being, “I solely drink alcohol on Friday evening and Saturday whereas watching faculty soccer”
- For sleep, “I solely watch 1 episode of TV per evening. I cease enjoying video video games and switch off social media at 8pm.”
Begin writing down some aspirational guidelines and see the way it feels.
I discover the extra particular and go/fail the foundations are, the extra seemingly you’ll be to observe them.
Guidelines that really make it easier to make the long-term proper choice in robust conditions. You recognize, these conditions the place your lizard mind says “eat the sweet!” or “drink the drink” or “keep up late and doomscroll for 7 hours!”
Guidelines can be pre-emptive so that you don’t find yourself in these conditions within the first place.
We will use know-how, app-blocking software program, or recruit our associates to assist us keep true to our guidelines.
When you determine your guidelines, and truly write them down, hold monitor of the way you’re doing with them.
If you end up breaking your guidelines extra continuously than not, it is perhaps time to regulate the foundations, do some deep considering, or work with a therapist to begin determining why and what’s occurring.
Keep in mind, failure might be one hell of a trainer, and leaning into the worry is a superb probability to be taught the lesson life is attempting to show us.
-Steve
