BEND YOUR OWN RULES
'The golden rule is that there are no golden rules.'
George Bernard Shaw
One of the things I've noticed about people who maintain a
youthful outlook on life is that they avoid making rigid rules for
themselves. Instead of narrowing their world by saying no to new
experiences and ideas, they keep their lives and their minds open.
In turn, they stay young.
I found it interesting to occasionally watch the 'Grumpy Old Men'
or 'Grumpy Old Women' programs that were aired on television this
year. Not because I found them riveting viewing but because (as much
as I hate to admit it) I could see myself in some of the comments. I
too have found it irritating sitting on the train listening to
someone else's second hand iPod music; I find it difficult to
concentrate in many of the shops my daughters visit because the
music is so loud and (now I'm really going to sound old) I can't get
my head around the low slung pants young guys wear...so low that you
see more of their underwear than their jeans. What's that about?
And then I notice what I'm doing. I'm making judgements based
around a set of rules I've created in my own mind about what is
right and what is wrong. And I'm doing the very thing I couldn't
stand when I was a teenager - behaving like an old person!
Whilst you could argue that the iPod traveller needs to be more
considerate of other people's comfort the reality is that is just
one perspective. You could also have the opinion that people like me
need to get used to more noise because that's the way the world is
now.
Life is so much richer when we let go of our judgements. When we
lighten up and go with the flow and learn to accept that things
change and a better way of dealing with change is to resist it less.
Tolerance and open mindedness are two of the most important
principles in a world where global barriers are lessening every day.
It's equally important is to consider how we can apply this open
minded thinking to ourselves and to the people closest to us. Stop
and think about the limitations you set with the rules or the
judgements you have created. Some of them you won't even be aware of
until you see yourself reflected in the comments of a grumpy old man
or woman.
Next time you start to think 'People should or shouldn't
do/be/wear/think... (fill in the blank)' ask yourself 'why or why
not?'.
If you automatically think that you can't or shouldn't
do or be a certain way, challenge yourself - why not? What's the
worst thing that can happen?
Benjamin Franklin said 'The definition of insanity is doing
the same thing over and over and expecting different results.'
Do something different. Think something different. Be someone
different. |
.jpg)
.jpg)
