Is it Time to Start Breaking the Rules?
Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.
In my mind, rules are certainly made to be broken, especially if it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.
There are certainly rules that are warranted in contexts such as law and order, sports and working effectively as a team for example.
However, in the game called LIFE, enforcing rules on how someone should live is just plain DUMB.
It is creating a culture of robots where everyone is doing the same thing, but not necessarily happy.
These societal rules normally entail finishing school, get a good 9-5 job, buy a house, get married and wait until retirement age before you start living.
Clause: If this is what makes you happy and fulfilled in life, I am pleased for you. I can almost guarantee that 99% of people living that life have experienced some pinch telling them there is more to life.
Living in mediocrity is heavily entrenched in society that even though it is not written anywhere, this mindset gets passed on from generation after generation.
I know coming from a Chinese background, there is a rule that being a success in life revolves around good education and getting married. My siblings and I are all in our 30s and unmarried. We are by Chinese tradition, rule breakers. We get questions about when we will get married from our parents and relatives quite often. More than anything I am amused by the lack of sense in the question. Of course, marriage will happen when the right partners come along! No sooner, no later.
It is unreasonable to push rules or expectations onto others, but living in a world that propagates conformity, you need to be ROCK SOLID in in who you are and what you stand for. If you do not stand for something, you will fall for anything.
It’s important to LISTEN to that inner yearning to pursue a path of fulfillment, purpose and passion. How that looks will be different for everyone. It is about embracing your uniqueness and celebrating those gifts rather than burying it in conformity.
If following the path of what everyone else is doing is not working for you, is now the time to start breaking the rules?
I would love to hear your thoughts about breaking the rules in the life.
Onwards, Upwards and Forwards Dreamers,
Poh
Great post Poh! Not all rules are there to be observed. Earl Nightingale said that one of man’s greatest failings is Conformity – you have break free from society’s rules and be unique
I do believe that you sometimes have to break the rules. As a mother, though, I am teaching my children to learn and follow the rules. I think that comes first – recognizing the rules and having the ability to follow them. THEN you can decide if they should be broken. It is THOUGHTFUL.
Nice insights Poh. There are rules that are ok to be broken but others are not. Although this is a very interesting topic because rules depend on culture and there are many cultures so in the end the point is: The breaking of the rules is in the eye of the beholder.
Rules are made to be broken! Well, some of them anyway 😉 Great post, Poh Lin! Thanks!
Thanks Declan, I love that perspective from Earl Nightingale. He is one wise man
Excellent perspective Leslie…I do not think all rules are bad…when they don’t make any logical sense, then it is time to really question its value
Excellent point Luis…I agree it is in the eye of the beholder…at the end of the day these societal rules must resonate with your being…if they don’t, you need to question why in my opinion.
I agree with you DrSteve…lets break those breakable rules 🙂
All the tradition comes from human basic survival. Men provide food, women are for procreating, and taking care of the home.
All of which is designed to protect the human condition and for it to survive the generations. As for me, I have a “partner” and definitely have broken society rules. But I also own my own business and love working from home. Love this article
Thanks so much Stephanie! Yes you are right, a lot of this has come from survival instincts. I believe we have hit a time in society where surviving is simply not enough. It is thriving too 🙂
Poh Lin, you are so right on point! People sleep walk through life thinking there is no other ways and there is many other ways it is all about mindset! Awesome Post 🙂
Thanks so much Susanne, there certainly are alternative ways in life….ways that will fulfill you 🙂
Excellent post as always. Girl it’s time to bust down the rules and run like the wind with our dreams. Life was especially designed for fulfillment, freedom of expression of our higher selves, to share our gifts and talents with the world. Box? Life was meant to live in a box? How preposterous …yet so many do. Now is the time to dismantle the box…sledge hammer anyone? Thank you Poh for being a superb example of living outside the box 😉
That’s right, it is time to break down the box and to live the life of our dreams! Thanks for the wonderful comment Phenie 🙂
I love breaking the rules, stepping out of the norm! Thanks for sharing!
That is wonderful to hear!! 🙂