Pet a cat when you encounter one on the street

This is rule #12 of the “12 Rules for Life” written by Jordan Peterson. He has a few more rules than Monty Python’s famous set, but Peterson’s seem much more useful.

Each of his rules has an obvious surface meaning, and then deeper layers as you think about them.

So, “Pet a cat when you encounter one on the street”…. Notice and enjoy the little enjoyable things happening all the time around you.

From Peterson’s book… “If you pay careful attention, even on a bad day, you may be fortunate enough to be confronted with small opportunities of just that sort. Maybe you will see a little girl dancing on the street because she is all dressed up in a ballet costume. Maybe you will have a particularly good cup of coffee in a café that cares about their customers. Maybe you can steal ten or twenty minutes to do some little ridiculous thing that distracts you or reminds you that you can laugh at the absurdity of existence.”

Today, watch for ‘cat in the street’ opportunities. And maybe tomorrow too 🙂

Think about the deeper meaning underneath this seemingly simple idea, and its connection with other ideas like being in the moment.

A summary of the rules has been posted at https://blog.12min.com/12-rules-for-life-summary/

You might just skip to rule #12. I wouldn’t. I would look at them all and wonder how each might be relevant to you and your life.

Who wants to be a millionaire?

We all want something. We have our ideas and dreams. We wish that the world would be different for us, and for others.

So often this thinking just stays in our head – an itch we never really scratch.

And if it stays in our head, it remains a figment of our imagination.

Stop for a moment and recall one of those dreams you have. Got it?

Now do two things:

1. Say it out loud, and maybe embellish it a little 2. Write it down, with a few extra details

Now, notice how you feel about that dream; and how you feel about the future and your ability to influence the future? By the way, one of those two things will work better than the other for you.

Interesting isn’t it. We all know about this stuff. Visualising, getting specific, etc. – and yet I am always surprised at the impact it has when I remember to do it.

So, this is my reminder to me, and to you 🙂

Here are some more reasons to do those two simple things.

Pseudo-profound bullshit exists

This research amused me and my apologies to those who may not like the term used by the researchers.

According to Artur Nilsson and his colleagues at Lund University in Sweden, pseudo-profound bullshit refers to the amazing ability some people have to expel obscure sentences constructed to impress others rather than convey any particular truth.

And just in case you think that what I just said is an example of it, the paper is here.

Their research focused on the differing susceptibility of people on different parts of the political spectrum, and indeed, politicians are great purveyors of pseudo-profound bullshit.

It also happens in a work context, in reports, in presentations, in sales.

Notice when you see or hear it this week, and chuckle now that you have a name for it!

Are you an example or a warning?

I read somewhere recently that we are best defined by how we affect the people around us.

So how do you affect people?

What ripples do you make in your social or work pond?

In the future what will people remember about you?

More importantly, what will they remember about how you made them feel?

This thinking reminds me of a quote from Catherine Aird…

“If you can’t serve as a good example, you’ll just have to serve as a horrible warning”.

Here’s a tip… Be authentic, and within that sphere of authenticity, what can you do now to encourage the future memories that you would be proud of?

Here are a few ideas on being authentic, and a lovely quote from Emerson.