How to set up rules for your life values and goals?

“Life is too short to be living somebody else's dream.”

─ Hugh Hefner

We've previously talked about our core life values which by achieving them we could be directed to the true internal happiness. However, in order to have a real cheerful life, we still need to practice on our patience, flexibility and most importantly our life standards. I would call our life standards "life rules", since they would somehow rule over our actions & behaviors throughout the day. What are the life rules anyway? Life rules are the ground-rules or standards which we define for ourselves (mostly subconsciously) to measure the level of our progress in life. 

Let me make the definition of life rules clear by giving you some examples. Let's say that there are two different persons whose both top life value is success. The standard of the first person to be a successful guy is to have a million dollars, but the second person needs a billion dollars to feel successful! Do you see how different could be the life rules (standards) for the same life values?

As another example, let's say two persons have health as their first life value. However, the first one feels healthy and great whenever he walks, exercises, bikes, eats something healthy (fruits & vegetables), etc. because he believes that all of those actions are aligned with his life values. On the other hand, for the second person in order to be healthy (to believe that he's healthy), he always has to go to the gym 5 times a week, runs three times a week and eats a lot of protein (meat) to feel at the peak of his health. Taking the example of the second person could picture a guy who's very strict and must commit to his plans entirely to feel satisfied & happy with his life values. He could easily get mad anytime he breaks one of his rules. Do not get me wrong. I don't mean that commitment to your life rules are bad or something like that. I just mean that it's you who define these rules and set them up as ground-rules to be happy. So, you have the full control to take care of them. 

So, i guess you got the idea by now. It is your life rules which give meaning to your life values and make them alive. I know that most of the meanings you give to the life values are coming from your internal belief system. But, you should know that most of them have been shaped in your subconscious mind accidentally through no choice of your own. So, the key is in your hands to switch them off and change your life rules to more empowering ones.

Recognizing your true life values is one of the most important steps to achieve happiness in life. After recognizing them, you can set up your goals in life based on your core life values. But, what's the point, if you're not enjoying the road leading to your goals?! The main thing is to set up your life rules wisely & consciously based on your life values and be as flexible as possible along the way to fulfill them. Don't be so strict. Don't wait a long time to achieve your goals to feel happy. That way, be sure that even if you achieve your goals you'll find another way not to be happy. You have to be aware that each goal that you set up for your life, on its path brings its own side dishes. So, be as flexible as possible to taste them too and be as positive as possible to appreciate them. Never forget that the real source of happiness is all within you. It's all in your heart, in your soul, in your magnificent brain. First you must work on your mind to prosper, then you should think about the external possessions. You could even have a billion dollars and still feel miserable! Think about it. 

Practice and try your best to enjoy as much as possible until achieving your life values and goals. You might want to take another look at the list of your life rules.