The Rules of Life, Expanded Edition A Personal Code for Living a Better, Happier, More Successful Life

Introduction     viii

Part I Rules for You     1

1  Keep It Under Your Hat     4

2  You’ll Get Older But Not Necessarily Wiser     6

3  Accept What Is Done Is Done     8

4  Accept Yourself     10

5  Know What Counts and What Doesn’t     12

6  Dedicate Your Life to Something     14

7  Be Flexible in Your Thinking     16

8  Take an Interest in the Outside World     18

9  Be on the Side of the Angels, Not the Beasts     20

10  Only Dead Fish Swim with the Stream     22

11  Be the Last to Raise Your Voice     24

12  Be Your Own Adviser     26

13  No Fear, No Surprise, No Hesitation, No Doubt     28

14  I Wish I’d Done That--and I Will     30

15  It’s OK to Give Up     32

16  Count to Ten--or Recite “Baa Baa Black Sheep”     34

17  Change What You Can Change; Let Go of the Rest     36

18  Aim to Be the Very Best at Everything You Do--Not Second Best     38

19  Don’t Expect to Be Perfect     40

20  Don’t Be Afraid to Dream     42

21  If You’re Going to Jump Off a Bridge, Make Sure You Know How Deep the Water Is     44

22  Don’t Dwell on the Past     46

23  Don’t Live in the Future     48

24  Get on With Life--It’s Whooshing Past     50

25  Be Consistent     52

26  Dress Like Today Is Important     54

27  Have a Belief System     56

28  Leave a Little Space for Yourself Each Day     58

29  Have a Plan     60

30  Have a Sense of Humor     62

31  Choose How You Make Your Bed     64

32  Life Can Be a Bit Like Advertising     66

33  Get Used to Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone     68

34  Learn to Ask Questions     70

35  Have Dignity     72

36  It’s OK to Feel Big Emotions     74

37  Keep the Faith     76

38  You’ll Never Understand Everything     78

39  Know Where True Happiness Comes From     80

40  Life Is a Pizza     82

41  Know When to Let Go--When to Walk Away     84

42  Retaliation Leads to Escalation     86

43  Look After Yourself     88

44  Maintain Good Manners in All Things     90

45  Prune Your Stuff Frequently     92

46  Remember to Touch Base     94

47  Draw the Lines Around Yourself     96

48  Shop for Quality, Not Price     98

49  It’s OK to Worry, or to Know How Not To     100

50  Stay Young     102

51  Throwing Money at a Problem Doesn’t Always Work     104

52  Think for Yourself     106

53  You Are Not in Charge     108

54  Have Something in Your Life That Takes You

Out of Yourself     110

55  Only the Good Feel Guilty     112

56  If You Can’t Say Anything Nice, Don’t Say

Anything at All     114

Part II Partnership Rules     117

57  Accept the Differences, Embrace What You Have in Common     120

58  Allow Your Partner the Space to Be Themselves     122

59  Be Nice     124

60  You Want to Do What?     126

61  Be the First to Say Sorry     128

62  Go That Extra Step in Trying to Please Them     130

63  Always Have Someone--or Something--That Is Pleased to See You     132

64  Know When to Listen and When to Act     134

65  Have a Passion for Your Life Together     136

66  Make Sure Your Love Making Is Making Love     138

67  Keep Talking     140

68  Respect Privacy     142

69  Check You Both Have the Same Shared Goals     144

70  Treat Your Partner Better Than Your Best Friend     146

71  Contentment Is a High Aim     148

72  You Don’t Both Have to Have the Same Rules     150

Part III Family and Friends Rules     153

73  If You Are Going to Be a Friend, Be a Good Friend     156

74  Never Be Too Busy for Loved Ones     158

75  Let Your Kids Mess Up for Themselves--They Don’t Need Any Help from You     160

76  Have a Little Respect and Forgiveness for Your Parents     162

77  Give Your Kids a Break     164

78  Never Lend Money Unless You Are Prepared to Write It Off     166

79  Keep Quiet     168

80  There Are No Bad Children     170

81  Be Up Around People You Love     172

82  Give Your Kids Responsibilities     174

83  Your Children Need to Fall Out with You to Leave Home     176

84  Your Kids Will Have Friends You Don’t Like     178

85  Your Role as a Child     180

86  Your Role as a Parent     182

Part IV Social Rules     185

87  We’re All Closer Than You Think     188

88  It Doesn’t Hurt to Forgive     190

89  It Doesn’t Hurt to Be Helpful     192

90  What’s in It for Them?     194

91  Hang Out with Positive People     196

92  Be Generous with Your Time and Information     198

93  Get Involved     200

94  Keep the Moral High Ground     202

95  Just Because You Have, Doesn't Mean They Have Too     204

96  Do Compare Yourself with Other People     206

97  Have a Plan for Your Career     208

98  Look at the Long-Term Ramifications of What You Do for a Living     210

99  Be Good at Your Job     212

100  Be Aware of the Damage You Are Doing     214

101  Be for the Glory, Not the Degradation     216

102  Be Part of the Solution, Not the Problem     218

103  Check What History Would Say About You     220

104  Not Everything Can Be Green     222

105  Put Something Back     224

106  Find a New Rule Every Day--or Occasionally at Least     226

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