I was reading this post that is part of the blog about The Happiness Project. The author suggests that you should make a list of personal commandments to live by. I think for a while I’ve had this idea in my head. So my list is below. I didn’t want to make mine a list of ten commandments per se, but I couldn’t think of anything to add or delete. Here’s the list, in order of importance:
1. Let go of attachment.
2. Love everyone, including yourself.
3. Live passionately, tempered by wisdom.
4. Be responsible for your own happiness.
5. Know that love never fails.
6. Don’t allow fear to rule.
7. Almost doesn’t count.
8. Accept the things that you cannot change.
9. Fight injustice.
10. Do no harm.
1. Let go of attachment.
This has been my primary focus for a while. Letting go of attachment is a Buddhist ideal. If everyone was able to let go of attachment, we wouldn’t have nearly as many problems as we have now. Attachment is a sickness of the mind, a delusion. People believe that the causes of their problems are external, but really the causes are internal. The cause of unhappiness is people’s toxic attachments.
2. Love everyone, including yourself.
Loving all beings is another Buddhist ideal. I added “including yourself” because although people usually have a tendency toward self-grasping, or thinking that they are the most important beings, there are also many people who suffer from low self-esteem or otherwise don’t love themselves and take care of themselves.
3. Live passionately, tempered by wisdom.
A friend of mine once described me as passionate, saying that there’s often no middle ground for me. I either love something or hate it. However, it’s important not to let your passion for life run wild. You still want to make wise decisions.
4. Be responsible for your own happiness.
This goes back to the delusions and attachments people have. Once you realize only you can make you happy and that the way to find happiness is to let go of attachment, you’ll realize that no one ever has the power to make you unhappy again.
5. Know that love never fails.
This is from the Bible verse 1 Corinthians 13:4. It’s hard to remember, but it’s very important, which is why I added this to the list.
6. Don’t allow fear to rule.
I sometimes seem to suffer from what seems like paralyzing anxiety. Also, I sometimes find that I plan too much and am not spontaneous enough.
7. Almost doesn’t count.
Half-trying isn’t an excuse not to do something. I think if you have something that you want to do, then you should do it rather than telling yourself you can’t do it, and then justifying failure by saying you tried.
8. Accept the things that you cannot change.
Inspired by the serenity prayer, which my father repeated to me many times as a child.
9. Fight injustice.
I always used to tell my parents that something wasn’t fair. Their response was usually, “Life’s not fair.” I never found that answer acceptable, which is part of the reason I became a criminal defense lawyer. I feel like if you witness injustice and don’t do something about it, then you are allowing injustice, if not contributing to it.
10. Do no harm.
An idea prevalent in medicine, green perspectives, and Buddhism, I believe that every person should try to lessen his or her negative impact on the world.
