Rules to live by

You’ll find there is a big discussion around whether or not there is an objective morality. It is also debated whether or not morality comes from a religion. Living in the West you’ll be confronted primarily with the question of does morality come from the Bible.

I’ll explore that question in another discussion or two but my goal here is to give you simple rules that if you live by them then you’ll always be grounded and will typically always come out on top in life. You’ll be able to rest assured that you are being a moral and ethical human being.

Probably the greatest rule that has ever been devised by man (or really hijacked and claimed ownership over by religion) has been the Golden Rule:

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

I think that is the most concise, moral and ethical way to live one’s life but I think it leaves too much open to interpretation. For instance, if you are a sadomasochist then it might be perfectly “reasonable” for you to inflict pain on others because you want them to in turn inflict pain upon you.

That seems like it would be congruent with the Golden Rule but if the others upon which you inflict pain don’t want it, that doesn’t seem to be moral nor ethical.

So let’s break it down into two basic rules that are not ambiguous at all.

Do not commit aggression against another person or violate their property in any way.
Do everything you say you are going to do. (Corollary: Never promise to do anything that you know you cannot do.)

If you stick to allowing these two things dictate how you interact with people at all times, then you’ll have nothing to worry about. Your ethics will remain in tact and you will be able to sleep soundly knowing you are a moral person worthy of friendship and trust.

I will get into more detail on this topic over the years but just know that there is nothing more valuable to you in this world than your integrity and your Word.

• Integrity:
  adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty

If you live your life to this ideal, you will always be fine. Always do what you say you are going to do. If you give someone your Word that you will do something, you MUST do it no matter what.

Never promise someone you will do something that you know there is a high probability that you won’t accomplish.

Your Word is your ultimate descriptive factor and the most important things others will see and know about you in business and in life.

Jealously guard and protect it at all costs. More later.