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 mobster, observe these 10 simple steps!”

1. No-one can current himself instantly to a different of our associates. There should be a 3rd particular person to do it.
2. By no means take a look at the wives of associates.
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 provide delivery.
6. Appointments should completely be revered.
7. Wives should be handled with respect.
8. When requested for any info, the reply should 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 every single day, however they’re guidelines that any individual can be taught, internalize, and apply after they discover themselves in a precarious scenario and are uncertain tips on how 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 lined issues like “safety of the weak and poor, courtesy and respect, braveness and navy prowess.”

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

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

Now we have Rules for the Nerd Fitness Rebellion too!

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

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

Guidelines might help us make selections.

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

Nonetheless, when we’ve got a rule in place, it permits us to make a transparent selection slightly than agonizing over it.

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

Right here’s a fast instance:

Many of the profitable fashionable diets are merely an inventory 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 give you a set of aspirational guidelines that assist them stage up their lives.

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

I do know once I observe these guidelines, “the Manner of the Nerd,” I’ve a reasonably good likelihood 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 may not be just right for you, and that’s okay.

They’re my guidelines.

Your guidelines should mirror your scenario.

We Respect the Guidelines of Others

Right here’s one other enjoyable hack: we’d not like all guidelines, however we are inclined 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, dwell a bit of,” as a result of they don’t need to be the one particular person consuming a donut…

However in case you say “I’ve a rule that I don’t eat donuts on weekdays,” then you have got a tough rule that you just’re following, and your coworker will in all probability respect this.

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

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

What are YOUR guidelines?

mixture of aspirational, skilled, and society-improving guidelines is an effective place to start out. Or heck, simply one in all every!

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

These guidelines needs to be YOURS.

Listed here 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 workforce forward of schedule if I would like extra time.”
• With associates, “I all the time ship a thank-you notice after being invited to one thing by a buddy”
• For well being, “I solely drink alcohol on Friday night time and Saturday whereas watching faculty soccer”
• For sleep, “I solely watch 1 episode of TV per night time. I cease taking part in 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 principles are, the extra possible you’ll be to observe them.

Guidelines that really show you how to make the long-term proper resolution in powerful conditions. You already know, 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 will also be pre-emptive so that you don’t find yourself in these conditions within the first place.

We will use know-how, app-blocking software program, or recruit our associates to assist us keep true to our guidelines.

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

If you end up breaking your guidelines extra incessantly than not, it may be time to regulate the principles, do some deep considering, or work with a therapist to start out determining why and what’s happening.

Keep in mind, failure could be one hell of a trainer, and leaning into the worry is a good likelihood to be taught the lesson life is attempting to show us.

-Steve