Mobsters, Knights, and Samurai have a code. Do You?

In 2007, Italian police arrested Salvatore Lo Piccolo.

This dude was an precise boss from the true life Sicilian Mafia.

As they explored his home, they stumbled throughout what they believed to be their official “10 commandments” of their crew.

In different phrases, “If you wish to be a very good mobster, observe these 10 straightforward steps!”

1. No-one can current himself immediately to a different of our pals. There have to be a 3rd particular person to do it.
2. By no means take a look at the wives of pals.
3. By no means be seen with cops.
4. Don’t go to pubs and golf equipment.
5. At all times being obtainable for Cosa Nostra is an obligation – even when your spouse’s about to offer start.
6. Appointments should completely be revered.
7. Wives have to be handled with respect.
8. When requested for any info, the reply have to be the reality.
9. Cash can’t be appropriated if it belongs to others or to different households.
10. Individuals who can’t be a part of Cosa Nostra: anybody who has an in depth relative within the police, anybody with a two-timing relative within the household, anybody who behaves badly and doesn’t maintain to ethical values.

These guidelines actually don’t cowl each single resolution that each mobster must make daily, however they’re guidelines that any person can be taught, internalize, and apply once they discover themselves in a precarious state of affairs and are not sure the right way to act.

The Mob isn’t the one crew that has guidelines both.

Historic Samurai in Japan, had “Bushido” aka “The best way of the warrior.” 8 rules for their personal code of conduct:​

1. Righteousness (Justice)
2. Braveness
3. Benevolence (Mercy)
4. Respect
5. Honesty
6. Honor
7. Loyalty
8. Self-Management

Elsewhere, knights in medieval Europe had a “Code of Chivalry,” which coated issues like “safety of the weak and poor, courtesy and respect, braveness and navy prowess.”

Maximus Decimus Meridius in Gladiator and his fellow troopers at all times picked one another up with “Energy and honor.”

In 300, Spartan Troopers knew to “come house along with your defend, or on it.”

We’ve Rules for the Nerd Fitness Rebellion too!

I carry up these guidelines as a result of we would not be mobsters, knights, or samurai…

However I wager including some guidelines to your life may assist.

Guidelines may also help us make choices.

Life is sophisticated, and our brains are able to speaking us into and out of varied choices.

Nonetheless, when we now have a rule in place, it permits us to make a transparent alternative moderately than agonizing over it.

Extra importantly. We will make a rule ONCE, after which we don’t need to waste any brainpower or willpower on every resolution in a while.

Right here’s a fast instance:

A lot of the profitable well-liked diets are merely a listing of guidelines that folks observe that get them to eat fewer calories.

• ​Intermittent fasting means “I solely eat between midday at 8pm.”
• ​The Paleo Diet means “I don’t eat something a caveman wouldn’t eat.”
• ​Vegan means “I don’t eat any merchandise derived from animals.”

I’m not saying any of those methods above are higher or worse than any others, both. I carry up these heuristics as a result of they’ve helped many, and been unhelpful for a lot of.

Every particular person can provide you with a set of aspirational guidelines that assist them degree up their lives.

I actually have “fitness” rules that I usually follow:

I do know once I observe these guidelines, “the Means of the Nerd,” I’ve a fairly good probability of staying match, wholesome, and feeling good about myself.

I even have guidelines about interacting with the world and being a good human:

These particular guidelines won’t be just right for you, and that’s okay.

They’re my guidelines.

Your guidelines should mirror your state of affairs.

We Respect the Guidelines of Others

Right here’s one other enjoyable hack: we would not like all guidelines, however we are likely to respect other people’s rules:

our coworker presents you a donut, and also you say “ohhhhh, I shouldn’t.” They could come again with “c’mon, stay somewhat,” as a result of they don’t need to be the one particular person consuming a donut…

However in the event you say “I’ve a rule that I don’t eat donuts on weekdays,” then you have got a tough rule that you simply’re following, and your coworker will most likely respect this.

Some individuals would possibly abstain from sure meals or drinks for non secular or private causes.

There’s no motive you’ll be able to’t have guidelines for no matter rattling motive you need to!

What are YOUR guidelines?

A great mixture of aspirational, skilled, and society-improving guidelines is an effective place to begin. Or heck, simply one in every of every!

Heck, even one for every could be a good place to begin.

These guidelines ought to be YOURS.

Listed below are some concepts that will help you get began:

• At work “I do what I say I’m going to do, on schedule, or I inform my crew forward of schedule if I want extra time.”
• With pals, “I at all times ship a thank-you be aware after being invited to one thing by a pal”
• For well being, “I solely drink alcohol on Friday night time and Saturday whereas watching school soccer”
• For sleep, “I solely watch 1 episode of TV per night time. I cease enjoying video video games and switch off social media at 8pm.”

Begin writing down some aspirational guidelines and see the way it feels.

I discover the extra particular and move/fail the foundations are, the extra seemingly you’ll be to observe them.

Guidelines that truly make it easier to make the long-term proper resolution in robust conditions. You realize, these conditions the place your lizard mind says “eat the sweet!” or “drink the drink” or “keep up late and doomscroll for 7 hours!”

Guidelines may also be pre-emptive so that you don’t find yourself in these conditions within the first place.

We will use expertise, app-blocking software program, or recruit our pals to assist us keep true to our guidelines.

When you determine your guidelines, and really write them down, hold monitor of the way you’re doing with them.

If you end up breaking your guidelines extra steadily than not, it may be time to regulate the foundations, do some deep pondering, or work with a therapist to begin determining why and what’s occurring.

Bear in mind, failure will be one hell of a instructor, and leaning into the worry is a good probability to be taught the lesson life is making an attempt to show us.

-Steve