The rules of life: a personal code for living a better, happier, more successful kind of life

Cover......Page 1
Title Page......Page 4
Copyright......Page 5
Contents......Page 8
Introduction......Page 14
Acknowledgements......Page 18
Rules for you......Page 19
 1 Keep it under your hat......Page 21
 2 You'll get older but not necessarily wiser......Page 23
 3 Accept what is done is done......Page 25
 4 Accept yourself......Page 27
 5 Know what counts and what doesn't......Page 29
 6 Dedicate your life to something......Page 31
 7 Be flexible in your thinking......Page 33
 8 Take an interest in the outside world......Page 35
 9 Be on the side of the angels, not the beasts......Page 37
 10 Only dead fish swim with the stream......Page 39
 11 Be the last to raise your voice......Page 41
 12 Be your own adviser......Page 43
 13 No fear, no surprise, no hesitation, no doubt......Page 45
 14 I wish I'd done that - and I will......Page 47
 15 It's OK to give up......Page 49
 16 Count to ten - or recite 'Baa baa black sheep'......Page 51
 17 Change what you can change, let go of the rest......Page 53
 18 Aim to be the very best at everything you do - not second best......Page 55
 19 Don't expect to be perfect......Page 57
 20 Don't be afraid to dream......Page 59
 21 If you're going to jump off a bridge, make sure you know how deep the water is......Page 61
 22 Don't dwell on the past......Page 63
 23 Don't live in the future......Page 65
 24 Get on with life - it's whooshing past......Page 67
 25 Be consistent......Page 69
 26 Dress like today is important......Page 71
 27 Have a belief system......Page 73
 28 Leave a little space for yourself each day......Page 75
 29 Have a plan......Page 77
 30 Have a sense of humour......Page 79
 31 Choose how you make your bed......Page 81
 32 Life can be a bit like advertising......Page 83
 33 Get used to stepping outside your comfort zone......Page 85
 34 Learn to ask questions......Page 87
 35 Have dignity......Page 89
 36 It's OK to feel big emotions......Page 91
 37 Keep the faith......Page 93
 38 You'll never understand everything......Page 95
 39 Know where true happiness comes from......Page 97
 40 Life is a pizza......Page 99
 41 Always have someone - or something - that is pleased to see you......Page 101
 42 Know when to let go - when to walk away......Page 103
 43 Retaliation leads to escalation......Page 105
 44 Look after yourself......Page 107
 45 Maintain good manners in all things......Page 109
 46 Prune your stuff frequently......Page 111
 47 Remember to touch base......Page 113
 48 Draw the lines around yourself......Page 115
 49 Shop for quality, not price......Page 117
 50 It's OK to worry, or to know how not to......Page 119
 51 Stay young......Page 121
 52 Throwing money at a problem doesn't always work......Page 123
 53 Think for yourself......Page 125
 54 You are not in charge......Page 127
 55 Have something in your life that takes you out of yourself......Page 129
 56 Only the good feel guilty......Page 131
 57 If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all......Page 133
Partnership Rules......Page 135
 58 Accept the differences, embrace what you have in common......Page 137
 59 Allow your partner the space to be themselves......Page 139
 60 Be nice......Page 141
 61 You want to do what?......Page 143
 62 Be the first to say sorry......Page 145
 63 Go that extra step in trying to please them......Page 147
 64 Know when to listen and when to act......Page 149
 65 Have a passion for your life together......Page 151
 66 Make sure your love making is making love......Page 153
 67 Keep talking......Page 155
 68 Respect privacy......Page 157
 69 Check you both have the same shared goals......Page 159
 70 Treat your partner better than your best friend......Page 161
 71 Contentment is a high aim......Page 163
 72 You don't both have to have the same rules......Page 165
Family and friends Rules......Page 167
 73 If you are going to be a friend, be a good friend......Page 169
 74 Never be too busy for loved ones......Page 171
 75 Let your kids mess up for themselves - they don't need any help from you......Page 173
 76 Have a little respect and forgiveness for your parents......Page 175
 77 Give your kids a break......Page 177
 78 Never lend money unless you are prepared to write it off......Page 179
 79 Keep schtum......Page 181
 80 There are no bad children......Page 183
 81 Be up around people you love......Page 185
 82 Give your kids responsibilities......Page 187
 83 Your children need to fall out with you to leave home......Page 189
 84 Your kids will have friends you don't like......Page 191
 85 Your role as a child......Page 193
 86 Your role as a parent......Page 195
Social Rules......Page 197
 87 We're all closer than you think......Page 199
 88 It doesn't hurt to forgive......Page 201
 89 It doesn't hurt to be helpful......Page 203
 90 What's in it for them?......Page 205
 91 Hang out with positive people......Page 207
 92 Be generous with your time and information......Page 209
 93 Get involved......Page 211
 94 Keep the moral high ground......Page 213
 95 Just because you have, doesn't mean they have to......Page 215
 96 Do compare yourself with other people......Page 217
 97 Have a plan for your career......Page 219
 98 Look at the long-term ramifications of what you do for a living......Page 221
 99 Be good at your job......Page 223
 100 Be aware of the damage you are doing......Page 225
 101 Be for the glory, not the degradation......Page 227
 102 Be part of the solution, not the problem......Page 229
 103 Check what history would say about you......Page 231
 104 Not everything can be green......Page 233
 105 Put something back......Page 235
 106 Find a new Rule every day - or occasionally at least......Page 237
The Rules of happiness......Page 239
 1 Take the long view......Page 241
 2 Do something you're good at......Page 243
 3 Like yourself......Page 245
 4 Look from the other direction......Page 247
 5 Spin it......Page 249
 6 Mix it......Page 251
 7 Find a distraction......Page 253
 8 Know who you value......Page 255
 9 Break down the blocks......Page 257
 10 Take control......Page 259
Had enough yet . . .?......Page 261