Philosophy for Life

Sometimes I fail to follow what I say, but I never fail to try. Everything I say may be wrong.

I believe having a set of personal rules and philosophy can lead to a more peaceful and productive life. I started writing mine in 2021, shared a short version as Basic rules for life in 2024, and this page is where it keeps growing.

This is a project that will never be finished. I am a continuous project, not a finished product, and so is this list. None of these rules are original; I have collected them from books, people and my own mistakes. Take what resonates with you and leave the rest.

Life

• You must learn to enjoy life without needing an audience to see that you are enjoying life.
  If I need someone watching to feel happy, the joy belongs to them, not me.
• Whatever you’re doing, do it well.
  Small things done with care add up to a life done with care.

Self

• I am a continuous project, not a finished product.
  It lets me fail, change my mind and keep growing without guilt.
• Remember you will die.
  Time is limited, so I should spend it on what matters. It is why I built Life Left.
• Focus on what you can control.
  Worrying about the rest only steals the energy I need for what I can change.
• You have to accept it or change it.
  Complaining is the third option, and it never helps.
• Examine your life regularly and be aware of it.
  A life on autopilot drifts. Reviewing it keeps me pointed where I want to go.
• Don’t take yourself so seriously.
  Laughing at myself makes mistakes lighter and people closer.
• Identify what you want in your life.
  If I don’t know what I want, someone else will decide it for me.
• Plan and schedule everything.
  A plan turns a wish into a date on the calendar.
• Play long term games.
  Health, money, relationships and learning all compound over time.
• Become the person that you would like to be around.
  I spend every hour of my life with myself.

Behavior

• Be more kind.
  Everyone is fighting a battle I know nothing about.
• Praise in public, criticize in private.
  People grow from feedback, not from embarrassment.
• When somebody speaks, listen first.
  I can’t understand someone while I’m busy preparing my reply.
• Before you judge, understand. Before you assume, learn the facts. Before you hurt someone, feel. Before you speak, think.
  A pause costs nothing. Words and judgements are hard to take back.

Health

• Keep your body healthy.
  Everything else in this list needs a working body to carry it out.
• Meditate daily.
  A calm mind makes better decisions than a busy one.

Time

• Always guard your time. It is my only non-renewable resource.
  Money can be earned back; time can’t.
• Strangers on the internet do not deserve your time.
  Arguments online rarely change minds, but they always cost me hours.

Work

• Do the work you love.
  I spend most of my waking hours working, so it should feel worth it.

Happiness

• Happiness is a choice, and it’s a skill you can train yourself.
  If I wait for happiness to arrive, I may wait forever. Practising it works better.

Learnings

• Never stop learning.
  The day I stop learning is the day I start getting left behind.
• Google everything.
  Most answers are one search away. Not knowing is no longer an excuse.

Still taking shape

Money, Pain, Family, Relationships, Writings, Dreams and Digital assets are parts of my life that matter just as much, but I haven’t found the words for them yet. I will add them here as I do.

Versions

• v1 — 22 August 2021, the first draft in my notes.
• v1.1 — 20 October 2024, the short list published as Basic rules for life.
• v2 — 3 November 2026, the full list grouped by section, with a reason for each rule.