12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos

Such an outstanding read. 12 really well-thought-out points or rules in life that we all live through.

These 12 rules are:

1. Be confident in yourself.
2. Treat yourself like someone you are responsible for helping.
3. Make friends with people who want the best for you.
4. Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to someone else.
5. Take ownership in parenting your children; invest in them.
6. Be honest and self-critical before you criticize the world.
7. Pursue what is meaningful (not what is expedient).
8. Tell the truth – or, at least, don't lie.
9. Assume that the person you are listening to might know something you don't.
10. Be precise in your communication.
11. We can't establish rules that go against the very nature of who we are.
12. Make the best out of even the most minor joys life offers.

Here are some that resonate with me the most...

We need to be confident and modest, contributing to our continued success. Self-care is the same as caring for a cherished individual. It involves nurturing oneself while recognizing the inevitability of chaos, suggesting a focus on actions that help personal betterment rather than mere happiness.

We need to develop a supportive social circle of friends that stresses the nature of healthy friendships and the value of mutual motivation during successes and setbacks.

We must be personally accountable for addressing our lives before critiquing the world.

Our communication is critical for fostering clarity and understanding in our relationships.

We can't establish rules that go against the very nature of who we are. Our rules should protect us, but they shouldn't do so in a way that suppresses the good qualities in individuals.

Finally, Dr. Peterson encourages readers to find joy in life's small pleasures, acknowledging the coexistence of suffering and fulfillment as integral to the human experience.