Provide an example where you create rules for yourself. What is your motivation?

Question

another question is What do you think determines wheter or not a person's actions can be considered good?

Answer 1

i create rules for myself daily. i am a recovering addict and my rules are strict. i avoid people, places, and things that remind me of active addiction. my motivation for doing that is knowing it is the only way i can protect myself and stay clean/sober.
In my opinion an action is good if it is mutually beneficial. meaning, my descision to stay sober is good because i have regained the respect of my family. my descision to use drugs and alcohol was bad because it damaged my body and caused me to lose respect and trust.
an action is also good if it benefits the most people in an extended amount of time - even if it may hurt someone at first.

Answer 2

When I was 18, I went through a serious mental breakdown, when at the point of suicide (of which I wasn't Afraid) I said to myself, you know you can kill yourself anytime, so lets try something completely different and see how it works. So I rejected all of societies rules and conventions, I rejected all legal laws, and rejected all moral laws, and developed a special code that ruled me only ( in some ways my laws are harsher than yours, and some ways they are easier)

Without going into a long dissertation on the specifics of the rules, I have lead a very happy productive life, I am now 60. Am I glad I didn't commit suicide back then??? I really don't have an opinion on that. It was a choice not taken then, but could always be a choice in the future. Death does not scare me, but for now, life is more interesting.

As far as actions go
There are no good or bad actions, there is only a good or bad perception by others on a particular action. You may object to this statement, but whether the action was "GOOD" or "BAD" causes consequences that must be considered part of the action. Maybe bad actions cause good consequences down the line for others, because of actions taken by others in response to the "Bad" action

Answer 3

When I had children I DECIDED that I would no longer pursue "partying til dawn", so my own self imposed rule became "partying in a time and place when the children were sleeping and being cared for by someone I trust, and be home and ready to act before the kids wake."
No one can determine what actions of a persons are good. I may feel that giving up partying til dawn was good, but my friends sure didn't...so...who was right?

Answer 4

You may step out of bed and your rule is a daily shower. The house is unusually chilly but discipline is strong in your and you switch on a heater in there for 5 minutes before you go in. You may have created rules about what you can and cannot wear, and you observe these as you dress. They may be based on moral discipline, and maybe just rules based on what you observe looks good on you. People who step on an exercise machine or go through calesthenics are observing rules they created for themselves. This goes on all day, and in the evening whether you have coffee or a cocktail has to do with more rules you've set up.

Answer 5

i made a rule for myself to see family members as different,,,,,,,,, and to accept that we wont probably see eye to eye on many things,,,, and to feel that is ok,,,,
my motivation for this rule was that i had always felt like an outsider often in my family and felt they themselves were not close, ,, then a cousin made a comment,,,, "you are all great people, but wow are you totally different" this had alot of meaning for me,,,,,, and helped me arrive at my rule,,,,,, even though i knew and know it in my mind and heart, i still have to remind myself of the rule,,, to follow,

i think often what is the motive in a persons heart,,,, can help us determine if their actions were good,,,,,,, though its true, some do negative actions for good purposes,,,,,,, so the motive must be the best interest of the other person or people,,,,, not just in your imagined best interest , if the act is done for others sake. if its for your own,,,, then its good if it harms no one else, bad if it does

Answer 6

Stop smoking -- My motivation is better health. The results determine if the actions are good. The person can have the best intentions with awful results

Answer 7

One rule I have set in my own life is to be totally honest when I speak or keep my mouth shut.If asked a direst question I give an open honest answer. Otherwise I may opt not to share my thoughts at all.

I have also began practicing observing myself as a third person.
Not as to refer to myself by name when talking to others, but as a witness to my own actions and thoughts and trying to come to impartial conclusions about my "self."

You should try it some time. It changes your whole perspective.

My motivation is to know myself completely so that I can better honor the position God has given me.

Answer 8

Be the best that you can be.
Always give respect and do not expect it, it is to be earned.
Work Hard.
Play Hard.
Live each day as if it is your last.

Answer 9

some times you need to follow your heart.

Answer 10

consider they ways of the ant .