Life Coaching Focus – Laws Vs Rules

Rules are made to be broken…
Something college students are told as they are invited to challenge the status quo. It is good to engage in this process because as we look at common everyday rules we are expected to follow in society, it gives us the chance to re-evaluate if we are in agreement with the rules imposed on us by our parents, by our church and by our governments.

This is however NOT an excuse for anarchy! Questioning in a healthy way, not disregarding order and common sense, we form a mature outlook on how we view our society and how we interact as individuals, among other individuals. The outcome normally produces a highly alert and fully responsible person, now ready to take his or her rightful place in society and where they can contribute their special talents to the pursuit of life and happiness.

It is a different matter when we discuss laws. Unlike rules that can be challenged for relevant value, laws are not to be broken. There are several types of laws and so we can better understand the difference on why we need to adhere to laws.

Laws of men
The system of rules which a particular country or community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members and which it may enforce by the imposition of penalties:

Laws of Nature
A statement of fact, deduced from observation, to the effect that a particular natural or scientific phenomenon always occurs if certain conditions are present

Laws of God
The body of divine commandments as expressed in the Bible.

Oxford dictionary pretty well says it right, no explanations needed. Peace and Order in Life, these are the reasons we function better as communities and the reasons we have laws and rules.  What rules can you create for peace and order in YOUR life?

Are your rules helpful to this outcome? Do you think you are good at setting rules for your home, office, interacting with friends? For example, I have a rule with my friends that says: “Don’t smoke around docMIKE.” Believe it or not, everybody respects that rule, because I really expect it. Another rule could be: “Please don’t gossip; to speak about others when they are not present.” Why? Because it could disrespect that person and you wouldn’t want others to gossip about you either.

Please look at your life in this “How am I doing with my rule making” thing. It is an excellent exercise in character and personal humanity building.

Yours in Real Life,
docMIKE