9 Reality Rules You Need to Know

9 Reality Rules You Should Know

LEveryone’s life is hard sometimes. And we all make mistakes. Sometimes things happen, and it hurts. There are, no doubt, many things happening around us that can easily make you lose your mind. It’s easy to get frustrated, cynical, and angry. The reality can be hard to process. But some basic rules can help us progress despite this.

Performance strategist John Alston and Emmy Award-winning director-producer Lloyd Thaxton present nine uplifting and inspiring Reality Rules for dealing with trying times in Things Happen (and Then You Fix Them!): 9 Reality Rules to Get Your Life Back in the Right Direction. They offer rules with stories and some exercises to help us GRAB the point.

Here, in general, are the nine rules with the author’s comments:

Rule #1: It’s Not What Happens to You, It’s How You Respond

Realize that you can’t change others, but you can and will influence how you respond. How do you respond when things happen? You say, “Next!” Saying “Next!” like asking, “Okay, what do I do now, this time, to manage this and move on?”

Rule #2: To Win, You Must Begin

Take that first step. Not feeling like doing the right thing is no excuse for not doing the right thing! Until now, you operate on the stories you believe in, your own personal little dramas, your own soap operas that you act out every day. If you want to change your life for the better, you have to change your story.

Rule #3: Knowledge is Power

What you don’t know will hurt you. Ignorance has the power to stop, delay, and prevent progress and growth. If you want to make the most of travel, you need to know the nature of the challenge. You must know the nature of reality and what it demands, and the nature of the field and land you are going to. You must have the facts.

Rule #4: Be prepared

Some things happen for sure. Not preparing for what you know is coming will hurt your well-being in the face of reality.

Rule #5: Work hard on what doesn’t work, doesn’t work

If it doesn’t work, it’s time to change. And the first thing you need to change is yourself. If things keep happening to you, it’s time to analyze what you keep doing that isn’t working. Even if things happen that are not your fault, your response when things do happen is to accept some responsibility and make changes in yourself.

Rule #6: To Change Your Life, Change Your Mind

Feelings never tell us what to do. They are only messengers telling us that there is a need for attention. Most people who react negatively to angry feelings are people who have never learned how to cope positively when something happens. Your attitude3 is the ultimate weapon in the fight for strengthening relationships and gaining that competitive edge, and getting back on track.

Rule #7: Gratitude Is the Most Powerful Character

Say “thank you” when you wake up in the morning. Life is a gift. Don’t waste it.

Rule #8: Make It 100 Percent Okay to Take Criticism

Most people love to learn, but they don’t want to be taught. You see, teaching involves criticism, and most people can’t stand criticism. How about you? Criticism does not mean the critic is right. Instead, just take the time to listen and think, “Hey, maybe I can make a little adjustment here, a little tuck there. Maybe I can set some higher goals for myself.” Try it. We need criticism.

Rule #9: The Power of Choice Is Within

Part of making all this work is recognizing that there are rules and principles that, if followed, can make a positive difference in how we manage things. Some people get more than their share of bad things because they don’t get them. They make wrong choices, and things happen.

Consider these five points of the compass to make choices:

Life is a gift. Don’t waste it. Count your blessings.
Of all the gifts you have, the greatest gift is your mind. Don’t waste it. Put it to work.
Develop your talents and give them back to the world.
Be the most decent person you can be. (The admonition “If you can’t speak well of someone, don’t speak at all!” is a principle that should be heeded.
Remember, in this particular game, there is no time guarantee.

Finally, the authors remind us, “Some get it. Some don’t. Some will. Some won’t. Those who do, do. Those who don’t, don’t. And that’s what it’s all about.”

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