Hey there —

From the time we’re in diapers, rules are enforced upon us from all directions.

From our parents and school, to religion and societal norms, there’s no shortage of people telling us what to do and how to do it. It’s no wonder the “teenage rebellious streak” is a rite of passage — we’re all just trying to shake off the shackles society puts on us.

Then, we finish school or college, move away from home, and get out into the “real” world. As we get that first sweet taste of independence, the guidelines of acceptable behavior are no longer as clear.

At first, we’re like “Hell yeah, I can eat ice cream at every meal and stay up until 1 a.m. every night playing video games!”

And hey, that’s fun for a while. But there are only so many times you can have Mi Goreng and Red Bull for breakfast or skip laundry day without feeling like a crusty slacker.

Eventually, we start to crave some semblance of structure and realize that maybe rules aren’t so bad after all.

And when it’s self-imposed, having a personal rulebook to live by can be extremely powerful.

Whenever you’re second-guessing yourself, your personal code of conduct can be the North Star that guides you in the right direction.

Here are 5 suggestions to get you started:

1. Strive for action over motivation.

Movement precedes momentum — not the other way around.

2. Practice the 5x5 rule.

Most of us spend way too much time sweating the small stuff. If it won’t matter in 5 years, don’t spend more than 5 minutes worrying about it.

3. Take radical responsibility for your life.

There’s nothing more empowering than taking 100% ownership of everything in your life — the good stuff, and the bad stuff, too.

4. Embrace what makes you weird.

It worked for Loop Daddy, and it will work for you, too.

5. Make your bed.

Yep, your mom was right about one rule. This one simple action is a breeze to master. And that sense of accomplishment will help give you momentum to stick to all the other rules.

Remember, the best rulebook isn’t prescriptive or dogmatic. You get to set your own standard operating procedure and ensure that you always act in alignment with your core values in your work, relationships, finances, and more.

The key is to stay flexible with your rules, depending on what’s happening in your life. Because the best thing about your own rules is that you get to decide when it’s appropriate to break them.

And hey, if you want to eat Count Chocula for breakfast once in a while, we won’t judge. 🥣🧛

Bomb Shelter: Love, Time, and Other Explosives

by Mary Laura Philpott

The world can be a scary place, full of what ifs and unanticipated difficulties. So how do we navigate life — and even find joy in the midst of painful experiences — without succumbing to worry and anxiety?

Mary Laura Philpott, bestselling author of I Miss You When I Blink, shares her personal experience with unexpected crisis in this poignant and powerful memoir that tackles the big questions of life, death, and existential fear with humor and hope.

Buy from bookshop.org → (Or borrow it from your local library!)

This playlist is scientifically verified to give you chills

by Big Think

Have you ever gotten goosebumps just listening to a song? Or, as this article’s author, Sam Gilberg, describes it: “‘that moment’ when a song pierces your body and soul.”

Then you’ve experienced the scientific reaction known as “frisson.”

And thanks to a team of neuroscientists, you can now get that feeling on demand, from any of the 715 songs on their carefully curated playlist. 🎧

Click the link below to learn more about the science behind frisson and to check out the playlist on Spotify.

Read the article →

Think in Color Quiz

by Knack

This short quiz, developed by Knack in collaboration with the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, challenges takers to leave behind absolute certainties and make room for fresh insights.

The test takes about 5 minutes and measures parameters such as empathy, open-mindedness, flexibility, and curiosity to determine how black and white — or colorful — your thinking is. 💭

Take the quiz →

“Be brave. Take risks. Nothing can substitute experience.”
– Paulo Coelho

Written by Emma Norris

Edited by Matt D'Avella & Kerstin Sheppard