How often have you allowed your rules get in the way of your rewards? Not the societal rules that everyone is supposed to live by, but the self-imposed rules that sack your success.

Rules, by and large, are someone else’s rules passed down to you before you even knew what a rule was. Let’s call them “The Accidental Rules of You.”

What’s not proper for you that most others don’t have a problem with? Answer that and you have an accidental rule.

We all have a stack of these rules that get in the way of us moving forward. There are plenty of things in the environment that can get in our way, but none bigger than our own rules.

Reminds me of a story . . .

I was brought up Catholic and at one time we were not allowed to eat meat on Friday. It was a church rule. Then they changed the rule and we were allowed to eat meat on Friday. Some people didn’t like the change. Some because they got used to the ritual and it became comfortable for them, and others who continued the old rule for the sake of sticking to the old rule. This second group was made up of the holier than thou types - having a rule for rule’s sake.

What one of your rules could you purposely break and not break a sweat? Meaning, what rule is keeping you from living a more productive life? I guarantee you there are many of them that sit just below the surface and get in the way of you making headway.

It would be helpful to set aside some time and list your rules. Go on a search for what rules you. When you list them and look them over, a magical thing will happen - You’ll spot a rule you can live without.

The rule was there, behind the scenes, keeping you from doing something that would add to your life. Once you spot a rule you can live without, you automatically feel lighter. The more rules you find that you can easily live without the easier it’ll be to accomplish your goals, because you won’t be hindered by hidden forces.

Having fewer rules lightens you up. My experience is that people with a lot of rules have a sour expression, as a rule. They are also stiffer in their body movements. And though they credit their rules for their success, they aren’t as successful as they could be with far fewer rules.

I could be making all this up, so don’t take my word for it. Investigate your own rules and find a few that are just taking up space and kick them to the curb and see what happens.

My guess is your load will lighten, you’ll play more, and you’ll start noticing the wind at your back more often.

Here’s a rule of thumb: Rules that get in the way of play, are generally rules that get in your way.

All the best,

John