CONTENTS
Primary importance
The order: Values, standards, rules
What does setting standards get me?
How do I set standards?
Forms for identifying your values
Forms for setting your standards and rules
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PRIMARY IMPORTANCE
Like a teenager first contemplating sex, the standards and rules must be set first and be made clear or the temptation and feelings of the moment will rule.
So it is with life, without a standard and without careful thought, we drift through life living on whim or by temptation or just taking the seemingly easiest path. What we want to do here is have you take the "best" path for you, for your happiness and satisfaction with life.
Instead of living in "the drift" (or becoming the gradually boiling frog in life), it is important to "steer" yourself by setting standards and rules now, one's that fit your values and what you want in life. We want to create them we are in our thinking and objective mind, as the quality and effectiveness can only be derived from higher level reasoning and perspective. We want to create an incredibly strong foundation for running one's life.
THE ORDER
First, one must determine what one's values are, completing the forms below.
Then, one must set one's standards for how much one is determined to achieve of those values, preferably without compromise.
And finally one sets up rules (and commitments to follow those rules) that one is to follow to meet those standards. A rule is "I will do this in order to get that." It is a guideline for behaviors and practices.
WHAT DOES SETTING STANDARDS GET ME?
Standards indicate how you set limits both against and for.
This will transform your behaviors by how you engage in the clarification in this process.
Spend at least a half hour and then add to it over time. Vital to success in life.
HOW DO I SET STANDARDS?
Although we want to achieve as high a standard as possible in order to live as well as possible in any one area and in life overall, it can be useful to at least begin by setting some "minimum standards" and "goal standards".
An example could be: To stretch at least 5 minutes a day early in the day. It is a very keepable commitment, though it is not life or death if it is missed. It is a clear commitment that is likely to be done, as it is very doable.
A "goal standard" is one that I wish to have but which may not be feasible to never fall short on.
An example could be: To exercise at least 30 minutes a day, six days a week. It is a worthy standard that will be a valuable contribution and one that will generally be kept. We are not trying to "wuss out" here; we are just trying to be practical.
FORMS FOR IDENTIFYING YOUR VALUES
See also the Planning section.
FORMS FOR SETTING YOUR STANDARDS AND RULES
for. This will transform your behaviors by how you engage in the clarification in
this process. Spend at least a half hour and then add to it over time. Vital to
success in life.
you won't have trouble making the right decision.
might give you some insight into how not to set yourself up to be unhappy!
