ten golden rules.

I am a student of life, passing through trying to figure things out just like the next man or woman. I'm not perfect but I do seek for an integrity to help me be a better person everyday. I have my flaws as we all do, but that is something that I must deal with, struggle with, and try to grow away from. Lately I have been really into this book of Greek Wisdom called "The Ten Golden Rules" Ancient Wisdom from the Greek Philosophers on living the Good Life by M.A. Soupious and Panos Mourdoukoutas, It has gave me some cool insight that I would like to share with you.

Rule One: "Examine Life"
-Approach Life with a Childlike Wonder.
-Engage Life with a vengeance without preconception.
-When the mind is engaged, the soul is most alive.
-Always search for new things, new pleasures.

Rule Two: "Worry Only About the Things You Control"
-For every problem you face, ask a simple question. Such as, 'Is this problem in my Control?'
-If not, I forget all about it. On to the next problem.
-If yes, what can I do about it?
-What are my options?/ What is the required energy?

Rule Three: "Treasure Friendship"
-Friendship is a reciprocal attachment that fills the need for affiliation.
-Wealth and Power are not the basis of friendships.
-Friendship shouldn't be confused with friendly acquaintances or "utility relationships."
-Without friendship life lacks energy and meaning.

Rule Four: "Experience True Pleasure"
-Don't gratify shallow, transient, and unnatural pleasures and desires.
-Seek stable, calming pleasures that contribute to peace of mind.
-Keep your life simple.
-Seek ataraxia, the mental equilibrium that keeps you mentally and emotionally calm.

Rule Five: "Master Yourself"
-Resist any external force that might distort your thoughts and actions.
-Be ruthlessly honest with yourself; always critically assess your motives.
-Don't blame others for your shortcomings.
-The highest liberty is an understanding of self devoid of illusion.

Rule Six: "Avoid Excess"
-Seek Harmony, balance, and proportion
-Preserve the mean. Avoid Extremes.
-Disproportion is the thief of real happiness
-In some circumstances, less is actually more.

Rule Seven: "Be a Responsible Human Being"
-The "Grand" Dishonesty- The Self Deceiving Lie- is lethal to human happiness. It distorts and cripples every opportunity, every relationship, and every prospect for a meaningful life.
-Reproach yourself honestly and thoroughly for wrongdoing; maintain a proper spiritual hygiene; stop the blame-shifting for your errors and shortcomings.
-Be prepared to candidly confess responsibility and not assign to others a blame best assigned to yourself, and be willing to accept consequences.

Rule Eight: "Don't Be a Prosperous Fool"
-Wealth per se is no guarantee for happiness and wisdom.
-Wealth offers no immunity against error and stupidity.
-Prosperity must be ruled by wisdom.
-No amount of money, power, or privilege can deliver us from the shortcomings of a fool's existence.

Rule Nine: "Don't Do Evil to Others"
-Don't Stain your soul with evil.
-Evildoing is a dangerous habit; it harms both the victim and the victimizer.
-Victimizers become bitter, grudging, joyless, and neurotic persons
-Concentrate your efforts on constructive activities that yield tranquility and happiness.

Rule Ten: "Kindness Torward Others Tends to be Rewarded"
-Be generous to others.
-Generosity creates real oppertunities for lowering the walls that isolate and divide us.
-Kindness bestows a profound sense of satisfaction.
-Beneficence tends to return to those who do good deeds.

Here are just some meditations from the book, Not all, but a few that I just want to share with you from the book, Enjoy them, Examine Them, Check out the Book. & Always Strive for the Better you. God Bless.